Freud stated that “For a small child his parents are at first the only authority and the source of all belief” in Family Romance. Children have the most contacts with their parents, so it is normal that children admire their parents. Also, parents are their children’s first teachers; they have to establish authority in order to influence their children.

From my own experience, I agree with him. In Chinese culture, children are expected to be obedient. My friends were all afraid to go against their parents when they were little. In some extreme condition, children must listen to their parents because their parents think they are always right. However, my own experience is quite different. My parents provide me with more flexibility and freedom when I was a kid. My parents did not present their authority too often because they believe that they can not be right all the time and they should discuss and communicate with me together.

Freud also said that we might compare our parents to other people’s parents. I have done that before, but it makes me have more appreciation and gratitude of my parents. When I was in China, my friends’ parents gave them a lot pressure on schoolwork because they expect them to obtain good grades all the time. My parents is different because they believe that it is more important to develop a good mindset when children are young. They did not give pressure on me and always ask me to balance between schoolwork and entertainment.