Should we still listen to our parents’ advice?
At some point, most of us have received advice from our parents, relatives, or older community members. Sometimes that advice proves invaluable. Other times, it can feel out of step with our own experiences.
The latest episode of Youth Matters explores how young Arab Australians view parental guidance today — and whether they still turn to their families for support when making big life decisions.
Taking or leaving parental advice
Young story writer Mariam Nizar Al-Dirani told Youth Matters she wishes she had taken her parents’ advice more seriously.
“It’s not right to make our parents feel like they’re wrong,” she said. “I grew up in an environment where we listen to our parents’ advice. It’s hard to rebel and tell them they’re mistaken.”By contrast, Fidel Ghanem shared that while he values his parents’ intentions, he sees advice from older generations as often shaped by fear, love, and respect for tradition.
Parents give their advice based on fear, love, customs, and traditions. Too much attention or fear creates a lack of independence. The balance is good when people rebel a little in their search for independence.Mariam Nizar Al-Dirani
Mariam Nazar Alderani Credit: Manal Al-Ani
Balancing independence and family expectations
Both Al-Dirani and Ghanem spoke about finding a balance between living authentically and honouring family wisdom. They described the challenge of pursuing independence without disregarding parental values — a tension many young people in multicultural Australia continue to navigate.
Listening to parents' advice depends on your age. I'm 24 years old, and I'm far from mature. I can depend on myself, but if there's someone to depend on, why would you depend on yourself? It's impossible to follow their advice.Fidel Ghanem
Some participants in the podcast reflected that they would have made different choices at eighteen if they had been more open to their parents’ counsel. Others said they’re proud of the paths they’ve taken, even when those choices diverged from family expectations.
Fidel Ghanem
Lessons from the Youth
In a separate conversation, in a room filled with young Arab Australians, a discussion about this topic sparked diverse viewpoints.
Several young Arab Australians shared advice they would now pass on to others, including:
- “Find yourself.”
- “Build your own independent identity.”
- “Everything has its own time — don’t rush.”
One young woman said her family encouraged her to enjoy life:
“They told me, when you get older, you can’t turn back time and say, ‘I wish I’d listened.’
“My mum used to tell me to stop spending money on video games and focus on my studies. I didn’t listen then — but I see now how right she was," another participant recalled.
Their reflections reveal a shared understanding that, while parents' advice can sometimes feel restrictive, it often carries lessons that become clearer with time.
Listen to the full conversation
You can listen to the full discussion on Youth Matters, available on the SBS Arabic website and all major podcast platforms.
The episode was produced by Manal al Ani and executive-produced by Maram Ismail.
