INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Choose whether to speak with your dad or your mom. You can speak with them separately or at the same time. Think about who you don’t want involved in your conversation, like siblings.   Having your siblings around may make you feel too vulnerable to honestly open up to your parents. You may be afraid they will try to get their two cents into the conversation. If you are closer to one parent more than the other, focus on having this conversation with them. They will either inform your other parent on their own, or their opinion could be the only one that matters to you. Remember that your parents are probably thinking about a thousand things at once and if either of them work, they won't have that much time on their hands. Based off what you know about their schedule, pick a timeframe that you know they will be able to give you their undivided attention.  Wait a few hours after they get home from work so they can calm down and de-stress from their day. Talk with your parents on the weekend during breakfast. They are more likely to be relaxed during this time and may be more willing to discuss, rather than dictate. Don't bring up the conversation too casually when they are in the middle of doing something, like getting ready for work or taking care of your sibling. Where you talk should be dependent on where you feel comfortable and where you know your parents will be the most level headed. If your house is usually loud and busy, maybe go for a walk with your parents to talk about this sensitive topic. Or bring it up the next time you are in a long car ride with either of them.   The calmer the environment, the better you will feel about being vulnerable with your parents. If you decide to go for a walk, pick a route you know does not have that many people. If there are strangers around, you may feel anxious they are overhearing your conversation. Speak as clearly as you can about how you want to date a guy older than you. Speaking to the point will show that you are confident enough to understand how you feel, which in turn will show your parents that you are mature enough for this relationship.   Write down how you plan to start your conversation. “Mom, I’d like to talk to you about boys and dating.”  Don't beat around the bush. "I have a friend who wants to start dating an older guy." The more honest you are with your parents, the more likely they will trust you down the line. Especially when talking about you dating an older guy, don’t hide the truth of your situation or over exaggerate for drama’s sake. Lying will only hurt your chances. Your parents are overprotective for a reason. If they are telling you why they don’t want you to date an older guy, try your best to see where they are coming from. When you start understanding their side of the argument, make sure to let them know. They will put more weight on your views and feelings if they see you are attempting to understand their own.   You want your parents to take you seriously. Do not use an aggressive or whiney tone to convince them. Talk with them in a friendly manner, making sure to actively listen when they speak. Your attitude will dictate theirs. Overprotective parents may not give you what you want the first time around, but this doesn’t mean you have to give up. Make sure everyone involved is allowed to express their needs, concerns, and issues dealing with you dating an older guy. You may have to deal with a few restrictions on your new relationship at the start.   Your parents may consent to you dating an older guy only if the dates are supervised. Don't fight, instead do what they say and eventually they may loosen their grip. You may not be allowed to go on dates during the school week. Accept it for now and maybe they will increase your privileges with time.

SUMMARY: Choose who to include in your talk. Decide when to talk. Pick an environment. Be direct. Be honest. Try to see their side. Be open to compromise.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If you notice any parts of the dahlias that are brown or shriveled, you can remove them with a pair of gardening shears to improve the appearance of your plants. Doing this regularly can also help to prevent diseases from spreading among your plants. Make sure to discard the diseased leaves, buds, and stems, such as by throwing them away or burning them. This is a sign of a fungus, and eventually the fungus will lead to a wooly gray growth on the dahlia’s petals. The fungus will continue to spread if you don't remove the damaged petals. This fungus favors cool, wet conditions. If you live in a climate where this weather is common, you may need to spray the plant with a fungicide, such as iprodione, moncozeb, or fenhexamid, which you should be able to find at a garden supply store. This is a sign of the root knot nematode, which lives in warm, sandy soil, and which can affect a variety of different plants. The knots will appear near the roots, and they will continue to worsen until the plant dies. If your soil is infested with root knot nematodes, you will need to treat it with a nematicide before you can grow healthy plants. The discoloration, combined with wilting leaves, is a sign of verticillium wilt, and it can stay in the soil for several years. This fungus will eventually kill your plant, and it can spread to other dahlias quickly if not treated.  If burning isn't allowed in your area, discard these plants in the landfill. You will also need to destroy the entire dahlia plant if you see mosaic mottling on the leaves, which is usually due to a virus spread by aphids. Smut causes yellowish spots to appear on the leaves, and eventually leads to the leaves becoming brown and dry. Watering from directly overhead can lead to water pooling, allowing the growth of smut. Instead, try to water close to the base of the plant, so the water will go directly to the roots.

SUMMARY:
Cut off any diseased parts of the dahlias. Remove flowers immediately if you see brown, water-soaked spots. Pull up the entire plant, including the roots, if you see knots forming. Burn dahlia plants and roots if you see discoloration of the veins. Avoid watering dahlias from overhead to prevent smut.