You’ll want to pick a time when neither you nor your parents are distracted. It should be a quiet time when you can talk one-on-one, or alone with both of them. Long car rides, quiet evenings, doing chores together, and long walks are all good opportunities to bring up the subject. If your parent(s) are busy, ask when is a good time. Say something like "I have something really important to talk to you about. When would be a good time for us to have a private conversation?" Sometimes, parents make the mistake of not taking their children seriously about depression. You can get their full attention by letting them know that this is serious right off the bat.   You might convey seriousness by saying, “I have a really big problem, and I need help," or "This is hard for me to talk about. I really need you to listen." In some cases, the opportunity to talk—and the seriousness of the issue—may present itself naturally. For instance, you might start crying and just blurt out your feelings, or you might be extremely frustrated with school and they ask you if there’s a problem. . Using “I” statements help you communicate your feelings without making your parents defensive or putting them on guard. For instance, saying “Your fighting is making me sad” may make your parents feel like they need to defend themselves, which makes them less likely to listen. Instead, make it all about you and what you’re feeling. ”I” statements may sound like "I feel really exhausted and gloomy. It's hard to get out of bed" or "I know I've been cranky lately. I get really mad at myself, and I hate myself sometimes. I keep wishing that I could die." Now that they know how it is affecting you, say its name. Talk to them about any research you did, and offer to show them any articles you found helpful. Show them wikiHow articles like Deal with Depression and Know if You Have Depression if this helps.   "I found some articles about depression. It sounds a lot like what I'm going through, and I think I may have it." Be firm if they minimize what you feel by calling it “having the blues” or “feeling a little down.” Tell them that you meet the clinical criteria for depression. Don’t just bring up the subject of depression and expect your parents to know how to handle it. Make sure they know you are worried about your condition and that you want to get help.  You might say, “I think I need to make an appointment with Dr. Rogers for an evaluation.” A doctor can help you figure out whether you have depression for sure. Seeing your doctor is also typically the first step in getting treatment, or being referred to a mental health provider who can treat you. You might also ask your parents if there is a family history of depression or other mental health issues. This may help them see that you’re dealing with a problem with a genetic component. There’s a chance your parents won’t respond to the news how you would like. They may react with disbelief, self-blame, anger, or fear. Keep in mind that although you have been battling with depression for a while, they are just learning about it. Give them some time to digest the news and figure out how they truly feel.  If they are confused, say "It took me a long time to understand depression, too." Remember that this is not your fault. You did the right thing, and this is the best way for them to find out. If your parents don’t take your claims seriously, keep telling them (or another adult) until they take action. Depression is serious, regardless of whether your parents believe you.
++++++++++
One-sentence summary -- Choose a good time to have the talk. Let them know that this is serious. Make "I" statements about your feelings Put a name to what you’re feeling. Ask for a doctor's appointment. Don't panic if your parent(s) react badly.


If you want your cookies to stay fresh in the mail, then you should avoid sending soft, buttery, or moist cookies, because their moisture will make them more likely to deteriorate. Instead, opt for cookies that are drier and more crisp, such as shortbreads, sugar cookies, biscotti, or crisp gingerbread cookies. Here are some other types of cookies that you can send:  Cookies that have a slightly chewy texture, like chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, snickerdoodle, and white chocolate-cranberry cookies. Macaroons and Pignoli. Though these cookies are more chewy and moist, their textures actually improve after a few days. If you bake the cookies on a Saturday afternoon, then they won't ship until Monday, which means you've wasted almost two full days of cookie freshness. Try baking the cookies the morning of the day you're going to send them, or at least the night before.  If you want to consider a faster shipping method, you can also choose to express-ship the cookies through UPS or FedEx, or to send them as Priority or Express mail through your local post office. If you're mailing them over the holidays, make sure you send them enough days in advance that they get to their recipient before the holiday and don't end up waiting in a warehouse because the mail will be closed for a day or two during the holiday season. Once you've baked your cookies, you should let them cool for a while to get rid of any additional heat or moisture and to let them harden a bit. If you package them immediately after you take them out of the oven, you'll be packing them in with the moisture and heat, which will make them spoil faster. But once they've cooled, you should package them as quickly as you can to maximize their freshness.
++++++++++
One-sentence summary --
Choose the right cookies. Plan to mail the cookies as quickly as you can. Package the cookies shortly after you bake them.