Perspective is important – how we see an issue is based on our social location in life. As children, we operate from a place of growing independence and learning about ourselves and the world is an essential part of this process. When our parents question or limit our exploration we may see it as controlling. Parents, on the other hand, operate from a place of responsibility and long-term planning; parents have many years of lived experience which guide them in teaching and protecting their children. So, how do teens and their parents work together? By building trust and learning to trust each other. Parents can lead this process by making their thinking transparent: sharing their personal narratives that impact how they make decisions about control or limitations and why they may feel the need to protect their children. Teens can help in this process by taking time to understand that their parents have their child’s best interests in mind – a parent’s desire to protect their children is not steeped in malice or misguidance. In short, have conversations with each other, genuinely learn each other’s thought process, and work together to learn and value more than one perspective. During these conversations, remember to use a framework of kindness and good treatment of each other, as has been advised in the Qur’an (17:23, 31:14).