Who is This Person and What Did They Do With My Child? How to Deal With Teenage Rebellion

Parenting a teen is no easy task. It is a time of extreme change for most and can be difficult to navigate for many parents. One important transition that occurs during the teen years is called Individuation. I speak of this often with the parents of the teens that come to my office. I explain that the teenage years are a time of learning to let go from both sides. Parents are learning how to let their children grow up and become their own individual selves and teens are also learning to let go, make their own mistakes while using the guidance and morals they have been learning from their parents during their entire childhood. The rebellion from teens that can then ensue is normal and should be expected to some degree. Depending on how we, as parents, manage the rebellion, can make the difference in its eventual effects on the entire family. Here are some tips for parents of teens to remember about teenage rebellion.

Do not take it personally

Get into their world

Realize their priories and focus in day to day life is different than yours

Remember your teen needs privacy and social connectedness

Teens need freedom to have his or her own opinion

Remember to show your unconditional love, empathize, ask open ended questions to help your teen explore possible consequences of his choices and share certain (but not all) self experiences of making mistakes to show you understand.

Important Notice: The information presented above is provided for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for consulting a psychologist or other mental health professional to discuss your unique situation.