"In terms of the frustration of my character, I suppose any teenager has probably gone through that, in terms of telling their parents, I want to do one thing, and their parent says no. I think parents sometimes forget that they were children"
About this Quote
The line “I want to do one thing, and their parent says no” is deliberately simple, almost childish in its grammar, mirroring the bluntness of adolescent desire. The real edge arrives in the last sentence: “parents sometimes forget that they were children.” It’s an accusation disguised as a soft observation. “Sometimes” offers plausible deniability, but the subtext is sharper: adulthood often launders memory, turning yesterday’s rebellion into today’s rulebook.
Contextually, Nagra is speaking from the double position of performer and former teenager, translating character motivation into a social truth: generational conflict isn’t a misunderstanding, it’s selective amnesia. The quote works because it refuses melodrama. It treats the domestic “no” as a political act inside the family, a boundary-setting that can either protect a child or erase them.
Quote Details
| Topic | Parenting |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Nagra, Parminder. (2026, January 16). In terms of the frustration of my character, I suppose any teenager has probably gone through that, in terms of telling their parents, I want to do one thing, and their parent says no. I think parents sometimes forget that they were children. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/in-terms-of-the-frustration-of-my-character-i-101285/
Chicago Style
Nagra, Parminder. "In terms of the frustration of my character, I suppose any teenager has probably gone through that, in terms of telling their parents, I want to do one thing, and their parent says no. I think parents sometimes forget that they were children." FixQuotes. January 16, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/in-terms-of-the-frustration-of-my-character-i-101285/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"In terms of the frustration of my character, I suppose any teenager has probably gone through that, in terms of telling their parents, I want to do one thing, and their parent says no. I think parents sometimes forget that they were children." FixQuotes, 16 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/in-terms-of-the-frustration-of-my-character-i-101285/. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
