“The Nest” teaches readers the moral lesson that parents should aim to give their children independence and the right to their own autonomy, while also expressing that children should try to understand where their parents' concern is coming from. The author, Robert Zacks, effectively utilizes elements of a short story such as conflict, character development, and resolution to convey this lesson. For instance, in this line, Jimmy’s true internal thoughts were revealed: “He thought she was treating him like a child. All his parents seemed to do these days was figure out how to hem him in.” (Zacks, 3). This line conveys Jimmy’s internal struggle with fighting for his own autonomy. Fighting for the right to make your own decisions is a common teenage