Keeping a Great Relationship With Your Teen

Do you sometimes find yourself chasing your teen around in order to talk to them? Your teen has reached a new milestone in their life and it is one that leaves parents behind them instead of in front leading them.

They already know what you are going to say. “I know already” seems to be their latest answer to everything. You may find that communicating with your teen doesn’t last very long. You get the impression that they are very uncomfortable being around you, let alone carry on a long conversation with you. Once your teen reaches that certain age, it’s almost a natural invisible shield that they carry around that says “Mom and Dad – Back off!” How do you communicate with someone who already has their guard up before you even start? There is a way that you can keep a good relationship with your teen even when they say otherwise.

The first thing they want parents to know is now they are older and they just ask to be treated as such. You can’t still pinch their cheeks and tell them how adorable they look in that outfit. It’s just not what they want to hear. You and your child have reached a new level that you need to adjust to. As children you were the leaders and the one who made all the decisions about them. Now you need to trust that you have done a good job and they need to make the right decisions but with you coaching them on the side lines. It’s not going to be easy to stand on the side lines but you need to have confidence in your job as a parent to have instilled in your child the difference between right and wrong. That’s why it is so important to allow them to make choices as they are growing up. When they get older they need to make their own choices because you are not there all the time with them like you used to be. It’s not easy for parents to accept this stage in their child’s life. You need to become more of a safety net for them now.

Once your teen notices how much you have changed by accepting them as a teen now and not treating them like a child anymore you will start to notice better communication between you and them. In order to make the relationship work between you and your teen, you need to make sure that you never stop talking to them. Tell them about your day or your situation and ask them if they have any advice. They will start to open up to you because they feel that they can without you treating them like a child.

You want your teen to know that you love them and that you are always there for them but at the same time you will no longer be holding their hands to help them across the street. It’s vital to keep a positive relationship with your teen because this is a crucial time in their lives and this is the stage they go through before they become adults. Treat them as they want to be treated and you will notice the change.