My parents hate my friend! What to do when your parents give your true blue bud the shut-out. (Friends).

"If I knew my parents were going to treat my new friend Jen so badly, I never, ever would have brought her home," says Jackie, 15. "The minute they saw Jen's eyebrow--she just got it pierced--they were rude to her. You could tell Jen felt uncomfortable."

Asia, 14, says her parents dislike her pal Kim because she giggles a lot. But that's precisely what Asia loves about her friend: "Unlike my super-serious family, Kim isn't afraid to burst out laughing. Yesterday, I tripped over a plant and knocked the whole thing over, dirt and all. My mom was upset, but Kim and I started giggling because we know we're both such klutzes. Of course, us laughing made my mom even angrier.

The fact is, your parents aren't going to like all of your friends equally. And it's really no big thing if they have a few favorites among your friends. But it's an entirely different matter if they flat out can't stand a best bud--and they make that fact crystal clear.

Now, there will be times when your parents detect a bad-seed bud--like the girl who habitually cuts school. She could easily bring you down with her, and you can hardly blame your parents for being concerned. That's their job!

But if your parents balk at a perfectly appropriate pal, you need to sort it out as soon as possible. Here's how....

BRING IT ON As shocking as this probably seems, your parents might be totally unaware of how rudely they treat your friend. So tell them, calmly and dearly. Try something like, "I've noticed you give Jen the silent treatment when she comes over. It embarrasses me." Or, "When Kim and I laugh loudly, you seem to get mad. I'm not sure why. We're just having a good time together."

ASK QUESTIONS Keep the conversation cranking by asking your parents exactly what bothers them about your good bud. Their explanation alone won't solve matters, but sorting out their feelings could be the first step to changing how they treat her. Your parents might serve up a reason for their dislike: "Jen is too young to have piercings," or, "Kim thinks everything's a joke." But let it be duly noted that your parents could feel put on the spot and come up with no explanation whatsoever.

STAY YOU Is Jen really the problem, or do your parents worry you'll be the next patron of the piercing parlor? The folks could be afraid that if you hang around with someone who is loud/giggly/pierced/whatever, you'll become that way too. So assure them that you don't want to become a clone of your pal--you just like hanging out with her. Try, "Piercings are not my thing, but Jen's look isn't what I like about her. It's that she's someone I can depend on."

WHAT TO EXPECT? Your parents might not be able to change how they feel about your friend, but they can change how they behave toward her. Again, assuming your friend is not disrespectful or downright bad news, you have the right to ask your parents to change their attitude toward her when she's around. Be specific about what you want: "I totally get that you don't like her, but can you at least be polite?"

DO YOUR PART Once your parents agree to revert to good manners toward your girl, think of some things you can do differently. If the 'rents completely cringe whenever giggle girl comes over, maybe you can ask your bud to tone it down a bit. Blame it on your folks: "I know this sounds screwy, but my parents like peace and quiet. We've got to keep the laugh-out-loud volume on low today, OK?" If your friend gets defensive, just drop it. We're certainly not suggesting a personality overhaul. But if you temporarily eliminate the trait your parents dislike, they might notice her other qualities...and maybe even warm up to her.