Responsibilities - they grow with age like a snowball rolling downhill. The older we get, the more expectations are placed on us, and taking on these responsibilities can feel burdensome. Yet, it is undeniable that responsibilities will continue to pop up at every stage of our lives. Even if we try to avoid them, sooner or later we will have to face them.

Surely, all of us have made some progress on this journey, gaining new life experiences along the way. As young people, we are already expected to manage a range of tasks: household chores, appointments, homework and more. But who has guided us through this process? Who helped us realise the importance of responsibility?

Our parents, of course. They were the ones who lit the way and taught us - through rewards and consequences - what it meant to be responsible. And yet, in this complex journey, even our "guiding lights" can lose their way. At times, they may fail to practice what they preach. They may forget, neglect or simply avoid their own responsibilities.

So what can we do? How can we, as young people, respond when those who have taught us responsibility begin to stray from it themselves? Can we gently guide them back? Is it right and ethical to do so? What is the right approach?

These are the questions that this article will explore.‎

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One of the most effective ways we can influence our parents without offending their dignity is through subtle, everyday actions. When we carry out responsibilities properly - especially in public - such as remembering appointments, helping around the house or treating others with respect, we set a quiet example. This approach avoids making our parents an object of ridicule or criticism. Instead, it allows them to see, through comparison, the values they themselves have taught us. It's not about showing off - it's about reflecting those teachings with sincerity. In doing so, we not only strengthen our family unit, but also make a positive contribution to the society around us.

Another powerful approach is to share experiences. Spending time together as a family - cooking, cleaning, planning a weekend trip or even playing a board game - naturally opens the door to topics related to responsibility. In such a warm and supportive environment, we can discuss these issues without sounding accusatory. These moments help us to connect and build stronger and more respectful relationships. When responsibility is addressed through connection rather than confrontation, it no longer feels like a lesson - it becomes a shared value.

Finally, we must not forget our own limitations. We are still teenagers - learning, growing and sometimes struggling to understand the full picture of adulthood. Our perspective, while valid, is incomplete. Taking on the role of authority over our parents is not only unrealistic but potentially damaging. Constant pressure or correction can strain relationships and lead to frustration on both sides. Instead, we need to act within our means - offering light, not heat. Responsibility should be a shared rhythm, not a forced march.

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In the intricate journey of life, responsibility is not a burden to be avoided, but a lesson to be accepted - over and over again. While it is often our parents who first show us what it means to be responsible, they too are human, prone to missteps, fatigue or forgetfulness. This reality does not diminish their role, but rather reminds us that growth is a shared process, not a one-way street.

As teenagers, we may find ourselves in a unique position - not above our parents, but alongside them, as fellow travellers on the ever-evolving path of life. With empathy and humility, we can reflect back to them the values they once instilled in us. Not by lecturing, but by living. Not by demanding, but by reminding. And not by judging, but by lighting the way with understanding.

To lead those who once led us is not disrespectful - it is perhaps the most sincere form of gratitude. For responsibility, like light, is not diminished by sharing - it grows stronger.