how to properly deal with the relationship between you and your parents?

I gave up YEARS AGO trying to make my Mom happy as in reality she thinks only she knows what is right. But the sad thing is that her life did not turn out so perfect. Her explantion? Outside things forced her to make certain choices. Well I sat down and told her straight out, we are responsible for the choices we make in life, because in the end we make the final decision. For instance I was in grad school going for my doctorate, in my last year some things happened to stop me from finishing my dissertation. But in the end it was my choice because at that moment I realized I was doing it for other people more than myself and also, economically it made no sense as due to Reaganomics, people with advanced degrees in my field were getting laid off from lack of funding. So I just got a job, I had a master's degree at that point, so I was not suffering finding a job, that alone was enough. But to this day My Mom tells everyone she knows how I "almost" got my doctorate. I recently told her to quit it, as it was annoying me. Also in the past we have had issues about other things, but the best way I found out is to be forthright and stand your ground, they will respect you more and you will respect yourself more for it. If you give in they will always treat you like a baby. I recent years my Mom has actually been coming to me for advice and we are becoming closer.

We can't always please our parents but we should be able to follow our own dreams without guilt. As long as you keep talking to your parents about what you want to do with your life, you are not sutting them out, and are being respectful of their feelings...even if you're doing your own thing. Everyone needs to spread their wings eventually and your future should be up to you because you are the one who will be living in it.