Navigating the Adolescent Years with Empathy and Compassion

Hello You

Parenting teens can feel like navigating a labyrinth of hormones, emotions, and eye-rolls. Amidst the chaos, misconceptions about parenting adolescents can leave parents feeling lost and frustrated. It is hard to know who to ask for help. You don’t want to appear lost in the parenting maze, but here you are!

Let’s explore two common misconceptions and how we can approach them with empathy and compassion:

1. Misconception: Teenagers are rebellious and ungrateful. Truth: Adolescence is a time of intense physical, emotional, and cognitive growth. Brain development does not complete until age 25. Thus, saying, “I know you know better” may be true, but the method in which your teachings are being processed isn’t biologically working with you. Teens are seeking independence and autonomy, but they still need guidance. We call it the practice run for adulting that has someone paying the bills for you!

What to do: Approach your teenager with understanding and patience. Encourage open communication and actively listen to their thoughts and feelings. This means you may have to hear information you don’t want.

For a teen to trust you, he or she will have to know they won’t be in trouble when sharing secrets and desires with you. Validate their emotions. Be present for them during this tumultuous time. Develop a “family hand symbol” for you and the teen to use to signal a break is needed.

2. Misconception: Strict parenting is the best way to keep teens in line. Truth: While setting boundaries is essential, overly strict parenting can strain the parent-teen relationship and hinder the development of independence and decision-making skills.

What to do: Strive for a balance between providing structure and allowing autonomy. Collaborate with your teen to establish rules and consequences, ensuring they understand the reasoning behind them. Don’t have so many rules the teen feels suffocated with no hope for earning privileges or trust. Encourage your teen to take responsibility for their actions and learn from their mistakes. Please, practice what you preach. You don’t always know everything. Offer guidance while giving them space to explore their identity and make decisions.

By striking a balance between structure and autonomy, parents and teens can flow smoothly within this complex stage of life. Remember, the teenage years are a time of growth and discovery, not just for your child, but for you as a parent too. Embrace the journey together and cherish the memories you create along the way.

See ya soon,

THE HIM and Naaila