Most parents have heard of the teen years being a challenging time during a child’s life. It may be more difficult to connect with your teen, and they may push the boundaries more than you’d like.
However, as tough as it may be, it’s not impossible to make it through this difficult period of their lives without too many disagreements. The key is knowing what not to do.
If you’re the parent of a teen or soon to be teen, make sure that you avoid these mistakes.
Not Giving Them Enough Freedom
Even though you may have your child’s best interests in mind by wanting to protect them, you may be holding them back. Not giving them enough freedom will lead to them resenting you, resulting in potential power struggles.
It’s critical that you start to accept that they’re getting older. Give them more space to become the adult that they will soon be. Even though you may not want them to loosen the reigns enough for them to do things like drive, fearing they may get a speeding ticket, or worse, get into an accident, you’re not doing them any favors for their future. Allow them a little wiggle room and give them the freedom to become adults!
Talking To Them Like a Child
Do you catch yourself talking to your teen like a little child? This is one of the worst mistakes that you can make. You should change your tone if you hope to be heard by them.
Mutual respect is an essential part of a healthy relationship with your teen. As hard as it may be not to sound pontificating when your teenager crosses their arms or rolls their eyes, it’s essential to ask yourself how you may be encouraging this behavior.
Not Listening To Them
Even though you may have a busy life, it’s important to take the time to listen to what they have to say. The teen years are a delicate time in a person’s life. If you fail to pick up on important details about their lives, they could fall into negative influences from peers and the media.
Just because they’re more self-sufficient than they were when they were younger doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still play a parent role. Help them by actively listening to what’s going on their lives and be encouraging!
Forcing Them Into Lifestyle Choices Of Your Choosing
One of the worst things you can do as a parent is to force your child into activities and lifestyle choices that you choose. They need to have the freedom to choose their own path, even if that means making a few mistakes along the way. As long as they’re safe, you shouldn’t try to force them out of their personal choices.