When your child hits his or her teenage years, you may begin to feel as though you no longer share the same relationship as you once did. Your teenager may seem distant, defiant, and perhaps even downright rude to you. During these years, it is important to be firm yet patient with your teen.
In order to best raise your teenager through what are sure to be some challenging years up ahead, it helps to first figure out how to better understand him or her.
Understand Their Clothing
Pay more attention to the kind of clothing your child wears during his or her teen years. This is a time where your child will be transitioning and trying to figure out their own identity. As a result, your teen will likely experiment with some different fashion choices.
Be understanding with these choices, but also be sure not to let your child wear anything you do not approve of. For clothing parents and teens can agree on, check out www.reemclothing.com/Mens-Clothing/Innercity-Designer-Clothing.html.
Understand They May Not Want Your Help
While, as a parent, you naturally want to be there to give your teen all the answers, be aware this is not always what your teen needs.
Your teenager needs to work out some of their own problems and will likely not come to you with them at all. During these times, try to give your teen some space and privacy, but be sure to be there for your child if he or she truly needs you.
Understand Their Reasoning
While you may not approve of the way your child dresses or of some of the people they hang out with, it is important for you as a parent to understand your teen’s choices.
Rather than just prohibiting your teen from doing something, think about why he or she wants to do it in the first place. Explain you understand your teen’s reasoning so he or she does not feel misunderstood.
Understand Their Language
Knowing teenagers’ “lingo” these days can also help you to better understand your child. While you could embarrass them by actually using that language in front of them simply being able to understand it can make all the difference in knowing what your teen is trying to convey.
Getting through the teenage years is not always easy, but knowing how to understand your teen will make all the difference in the long run.
Dixie Somers is a full-time mother and part-time freelance writer and blogger. She has written for many niches, including home, family, finance, and health. She lives in Arizona with her three girls 8, 12 and 14 and husband.
Do you have other ideas to help better understand your teen? Please write them in the Comments. Thank you.
