Didn't know my father very well. The last time I saw him, I think I was seven years old. He and my mom parted ways when I was five.
For the most part, my stepdad was like a buddy. I can remember two times when I really pissed him off. One of those times he tried to choke me. I kneed him in his nuts which got him off me. The other time he slugged me for throwing a hammer at him. Neither of my parents were strict. I was pretty much a spoiled brat growing up. Real life was a rude awakening.
I cannot offer any insight on how to overcome overly strict parents, never having had to deal with that.