Honor your parents. Respect your elders. We've all heard these phrases before but how does this concept play out in real life? All scenarios are hypothetical. Leave your advice to any or all of them in the comments. :)

Scenario #1: Evan and Tara recently became engaged. After years of awkward blind dates and relationships that fizzled out Evan was thrilled to meet someone with the same values and goals. He knew his family wouldn't be comfortable with him being in an interracial relationship but thought they'd adjust once they met Tara. They haven't. When Evan breaks the news of his engagement his parents tell him they are deeply uncomfortable at the thought of this marriage and ask him to break it off.

Scenario #2: Rosa grew up in a warm, close-knit family. She moved away to attend medical school and found work as a Pediatric Oncologist on the other side of the state. Both siblings married, had kids and also moved away. Four years ago her father died suddenly. A few weeks ago her mother had a stroke and that's when the conflict started. "You're single and childless!" her sisters said. "You should move back and take care of mom. We'll let you live there rent-free." When she mentions hiring a caretaker instead her sisters say they can't afford it. There are no job opportunities in her speciality in her hometown but she feels torn between family loyalty and a career she loves.

Scenario #3: Tyler never imagined himself as a new dad at 48 but after he and his husband adopted a sibling group of three from foster care that's exactly what happened. A few weeks before the adoption was finalized Tyler's younger sister discovered she was pregnant. After years of infertility treatments this was wonderful news. When his niece was born, though, Tyler's parents seemed much more excited about her than they were about visiting his kids. After Tyler's oldest son started asking why grandma didn't like them any more Tyler sat down to talk with his parents. They hemmed and hawed before saying, "well, it's different when they're your real grandkids."

Scenario #4: Whitney's childhood was so emotionally and physically abusive that she doesn't remember much before age 12. At 18 her mother kicked her out and she was homeless for about a year. Growing up she was the "bad" kid and her therapist said sometimes that label is transferred to a new child when the original target leaves. Her parents were just functional enough to avoid having her younger siblings removed by CPS but she kept in touch in order to help if needed. As time has passed Whitney has begun to remember some incidents of inappropriate touching as well. The few times Whitney has mentioned her memories her parents deny everything.

Whitney just had her first child at age 33. Baby Jonah is also her parent's first grandchild and they are eager to meet him. Whitney doesn't like visiting her parents but feels it is her duty as a good daughter. If her parents are allowed to visit the baby it would never be unsupervised. Her husband Derek doesn't want his son to have a relationship with that side of the family but Whitney's parents keep calling to set up a date.