As a teenager I was far from the rebelious kind but my father still pulled the "This is my house you do what i say in my house" routine with the result he never got told anything that was happening in my life as much as i loved him.

My mother on the other hand had been brought up a true innocent once skelping a boy who tried to kiss her because she thought that was how babies happened. Yet i always knew that i could talk to her about ANYTHING there would be no condemnation or disgust. She would ask quiet questions encouraging me to think things through for myself and make my own decisions.

I worked for many years with 16-17 year olds and was saddened how many of them would ask me why they couldnt talk to thier mum or dad like they could to me.