4 Parenting Tips for a Good Relationship With Your Teenager

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Parenting is an impossible task. From the moment your little one is born, you are thrown into a world of challenges for the next two decades. 

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In the beginning, you are faced with a screaming infant who requires constant care and attention. As they grow a little older, you have to deal with things like homework, bad behavior, and temper tantrums. But perhaps the most difficult period for any hardworking parenting is the terrible teens.

Between the ages of around twelve and eighteen, your child is undergoing some major changes. They enter puberty, the stage in which their hormones are going crazy and they are having to deal with their own challenges including romantic relationships, mental health, and grappling with their own sexuality.

Just think back to when you were a teenager, and all the things you were dealing with then. Every challenge and setback felt so enormous and world-changing. It’s only later on as an adult you get some sense of perspective. But it’s unlikely your teenager will want to confide in you about everything they are going through. And it’s common for kids of that age to let their emotions out in a variety of ways. They may become angry and frustrated at you for trying to be a part of their lives, or they may become insular and shut themselves up in their room. It may be that they are going through a hard time yet putting on a brave face, so you have no idea there is even a problem.

As a parent, the best thing you can do is to try and maintain a happy, healthy relationship with your teenager. Here are a few ways you can achieve that.

Spend time together

Once your little one enters their teens, they will start spending less time at home. They’ll be meeting their friends after school and staying out all weekend. It’s important you make an effort to spend time together, as this will help to maintain your parent-child relationship. Schedule family time, where everyone gets together to talk and laugh as a unit. This could simply be a regular family meal each week, or a planned activity like a walk on a weekend. Although it may not seem like a big deal, this will help to keep lines of communication open and strengthen your bond.

Communicate

You have no way of knowing what your teenage son or daughter is going through unless you keep lines of communication open. It may be that they have no desire to share details of their personal life with you, but conversely they could be feeling a desperate desire to talk but not feel they can open up to you. Let them know you are there to support them and willing to listen to anything they have to say. Ask them about their lives without prying too deeply, and eventually you may find they are comfortable having a conversation about themselves.

Stay calm

There will be times when your teenage child does something that upsets you. Maybe they are suspended from school, or lash out at home when they don’t get their way. Maybe you catch them drinking underage or you find a Delta 8 THC Vape Cartridge under their bed. When these challenges inevitably arise, don’t be so quick to anger. Shouting at your child and punishing them for their transgressions will only serve to drive them away. The best course of action is to initiate a conversation and talk to them about what they did and why it is wrong. Of course you do need to set boundaries and be strict, but you also need to let them know you are reasonable.

Celebrate their wins

Teenagers are just like anyone else in that they want to feel appreciated and loved. It may not always seem like it, but your teenage child craves your attention and validation. Show them how loved they are by celebrating their wins and cheerleading them throughout their teenage years. Turn up to their sporting events on the weekend, no matter how busy you are, and reward them for good exam grades. This level of parental support will encourage them to do well in life and will establish a firm bond between parent and child that will last long into the future.

Parenting is hard and you can’t guarantee you’ll always get it right. But by following these tips and trying your best, you can ensure a healthy and happy relationship between you and your teenage child.