i am sure nearly every other teenager in the world can relate to what i am about to say. this is not organized at all, it is in a pretty random sequence, so bear with me, non-existent readers.

you all probably know what i am saying when i talk about parents turning you into their marionette. so long as you do just as they say, it is all good. you have to be as they want you to be, a child that they can proudly show off to their friends and brag over. i am sure that i am not the only kid sick of this. since all of us here are artists, it is almost a given that we probably aren't like most others we know, even if only in a small way. maybe you are the "freak" who sits in a corner writing all day, or the one that talks back to teachers when they disallow you from doodling. or you could be the one that has no friends and that always keeps getting "help" from school adults telling you to see their counselor. or maybe your are none or all of these, heck you could even be seen as just as most others are, and you like it that way. good for you.
but parents need something, and that is to know that you will never change. that is much to much to ask of anybody.
my parents keep thinking i am goth, and they say it like it is a bad thing. i am not goth, but if i was, my parents should be proud of me, both for having a strong enough character to be who i want and not be oppressed by societal norms (this applies to any group/culture/ person/ whatever)), and (more specific to goths) because they are actually a highly intelligent group of people in so many ways. the "realzies" don't do drug stuff and all that. okay, now back to a more general topic.
from now on, even when i say my, i, or any other possessive word, i mean most other teenagers in general, okay?
because of all the "horror stories" my parents hear from other parents who are veterans of raising teens, they expect that i will do crazy, bad, and stupid things. sure, i do stuff that takes away the angel points, but really, i am not so bad as they think i will be/am because of what they hear from others. at least i (now talking mostly of myself) didn't put them through the hell of drugs/ other stuff like that, being sluttish (seriously, in that respect i am so conservative that they get annoyed) and other things that the most normal of normal teens are pat to do. i don't make out in the halls, or try to be a slut-o queen who wears the most revealing of clothing and puts on makeup to be normal. ( i think makeup is fine if you are using it for difference expression, etc, though)
the worst i do is dress differently, carry a depth of intelligence (or so they say.....) that exceeds most of my age, and try my hardest to do what is best. sure, other people may see me as some kind of freak that should be avoided, but personally i am much happier with my small circle of good friends. so few that i can name them all, in fact. my parents think that i have something wrong with me because of the smallness of my circle. i don't shut people out, as they suggest, just, i rarely find that i want to socialize with many people. they just do not have what i appreciate in people. they are so worry about me not being accepted by my peers, teachers, and every random person i see on the street. well, newsflash! I DO NOT CARE. what random people that have no bearing on me think does not matter to me! acceptance by my peers and fitting in just really is at about the bottom of my list. always was, accept for a few months of trying so hard to fit in. i was so miserable, and i am glad i realized how stupid it is to be what you are not. but we all have to learn somehow! few actually believe that how i dress really makes me happy. deliriously happy, often, to express my style and not be shoved in with the rest of them. many think i am just begging for attention and stares, or am trying to rebel against my parents, but i hate it when people stare at me like i am a freak, and i do not go out of my way to bother my poor parents. it is not worth it. i dress the way i do because i like it, it makes me happy. i am a vegetarian for many reasons, but none of them is because i want cooking to be impossible for my mom.
back to what i was saying about hating it when people stare and how it makes me uncomfortable: i have two choices. either i live fitting into the tight corset that is societal norms, parental normalcy expectations and what others accept and be completely miserable, or i can be stared at, gawked at, accused of being shoplifter, druggie, freak, one that must die, emo (and why is that so bad, again?!?), punk, goth, bondage freak, and every other thing that people have called me, yet be happy with myself and blocking out their unfriendly stares and just focusing ont hose whose support i have. all i need is acceptance from those closest to me, and random people's thoughts can't touch me.
sorry this is long, but i needed to say it, for myself, not necessarily for anyone else.
i am not sure i really said what i wanted to just now, but at least it is out.