One way to make tough decisions is to take incremental steps that don't commit you to anything yet.

If you're not sure what you want, then hold back from making plans or responding to invitations until you have a chance to think about it.

Moving is hard. Staying is easy. Logistically speaking, at least. And this is true whether you're doing or undoing something.

It takes awareness that it's not only not a bad thing to let others do things their own way, it is in fact an improvement. It makes life richer and more interesting.

Of course the thoughts and awareness are there, but it's all incomplete and often fanciful - kids know there's something to know, and they fill in a bunch of the blanks with their imaginations if their parents haven't had the conversations and/or established themselves as sources of information. It's rare that the kids know nothing at all, and the somethings they do know are often only partially right or flat-out wrong.

We all make deals with ourselves when it comes to the difficult people in our lives.

There is a difference between your parents' not reporting to you everything they do and keeping secrets from you.