How Can I Be More Independent?

Best Answer Gets 25 Pts! asked:


I’m a 17 year old girl, but I feel like 14 year olds are more capable of doing day-to-day things than I am.

My parents have always babied me. I was not allowed to use the microwave until I was 13 years old. I was not allowed outside the house by myself until I was 13. My parents did EVERYTHING for me. I even had to sleep in the same bed as my mother until I absolutely INSISTED I sleep in my room when I was 12. I am still not allowed to use the oven, turn on the heater or even use a vacuum cleaner! The reason for that is because they didn’t think I’d do it right.

But now, I feel like a helpless BABY. I don’t know how to do simple things like pull up the blinds (windows), give my dog a bath, plug in a vacuum, replace a lightbulb, etc. I look stupid in every-day situations, and I need to change that. This is ridiculous. How can I become more capable and less reliant on other people?
I’m not trying to put the blame on my parents. I’m just giving you the background.

Oh, and I wasn’t allowed to do the dishes until I was 13 (when I took it upon myself to do it without my mom’s asking). Now I live with my mom only, and she’s too busy to teach me everything now.

Ricardo