So my (25F) parents are not as strict when it comes to dating. They are warm and nice to people that I date. They don’t care about my date’s ethnicity or religion or background. All they care about is that they’re a good person and if they treat me right.

I recently went back to the dating pool, and my parents are quite supportive. They told me that I can hang out with them. Go on dates, go to their place and watch movies or hang out, stay out late, or even go to bars. But for some reason I can’t stay the night. I asked them about it, all they said was “What would other people think if you stay the night at your date’s place?”. I don’t get their logic. I tried arguing with them, and even disobeyed their rule one time and stayed the night at my ex’s place. They blew up my phone and gave me the silent treatment right after and basically scolded me. They said it’s fine if we were married or engaged but we are not. My parents are my kryptonite. They are rarely upset with me but when they are, it feels like hell. This is the only rule I have to follow.

I can’t move out because rent is so expensive in my city, and even if I did, my parents would have a hard time paying rent without my help. My parents are genuinely nice people, but it’s this one rule that basically makes some of my dates not want to date me. Some of them understand and told me it’s not a big deal but for some it’s a deal breaker.

For some context, we are Filipino immigrants. My parents are religious but are not the kind that will force people into their religion, they are just normal Christians. My parents are quite young as well (46M, 47F).

How can I make my parents understand that I’m an adult and can make my own decision?

TLDR: My parents are not as strict when it comes to me dating but their one rule is that I can’t stay the night at my date or partner’s house. It’s making me lose potential relationships.

UPDATE: Thank you so much for all the tips and responses. I’m kinda overwhelmed that I can’t respond to every comment, I just want to clarify that me and my family are living in Canada. One of the main reasons why I can’t move out (my own decision) is because I help my parents pay rent because they don’t make as much money. I also have a teenage sibling that’s still in high school. Sometime next year as well I’m planning to go back to community college full time and study to become a med tech. Maybe after that I could move out or at least pay for more than half the rent so I could use that as a leverage to do whatever I want. As for my parents, they are not keeping me as a prisoner, they are just very over protective and are encouraging me to find my own place, but they’re my parents so I respect them, so in my tiny mind, I have to follow their rules even though I don’t like it. The apartment we live in is very convenient as my mother has lived there for 15 years as an OFW and the landlord agreed that we won’t be paying an electrical, water or heating bills as that was the agreement 15 years ago.

My reasoning for wanting to sleep over is not about me having sex. My parents are aware that I’m physical with people. My main reasoning for that is I eventually want to get into a serious relationship, and I don’t want to move in or eventually get married to a guy I have no idea how he moves around in his own house. I’ve been lucky enough to have had an ex who understands my situation.

I’m also not my parents’ retirement plan.