13 Things Millennials Wish Their Parents Had Done Differently

Growing up in the 80s and 90s to the sounds of MTV, Super Mario Brothers and the robotic groan of dial-up Internet wasn’t all fun, games and rose-colored glasses.

Our parents did their best, at times veering from the script that they had been raised to follow. They encouraged their daughters to play sports and pursue careers in science and technology, and were more supportive when kids came out of the closet than previous generations. But our understanding of certain topics has changed in recent decades. The ways we speak about food, body size and gender identity, for example, have evolved substantially.

HuffPost asked Millennials what they wish their parents had done differently. Here’s what they had to say:

1. Been more firm and practical in their career advice.

“I did pretty well in school, and most of my teachers thought I’d go straight to college, but as a 16-year old I decided that I’d rather become a cabinet maker and work with wood… It eventually turned out to be repetitive work, mostly in a factory setting, that I didn’t find very fulfilling.

I decided to pursue further education and picked architecture in the hopes of becoming a furniture designer. After finishing my degree, I [looked] for a job for over a year and eventually lost my motivation to become an architect. Today I work with construction.

I wish that my parents would have encouraged me to explore academics early on. Had they pushed me in the right direction and been a bit more critical of my choices, I’d probably led a quite different life today. If I could go back and start over, I’d study medicine.” —Tommy

2. Cared for their own mental health.

“I wish my parents had treated their own trauma before they had kids. Both experienced significant