Parents and teens

Conflicts between parents and teenagers are common, mainly because parents make assumptions about their teens that often do not prove true. Usually, when their teenagers have wild friends, parents immediately think that their teenager will act the same way. This assumption, though, doesn’t prove true. Of course, there are some teens whose are easily influenced by their friends, but there are many teens whose follow their parents’ guidelines and rules no matter what their friends do. Secondly, parents usually have problems with teens’ appearance. They think that there is a connection between the outfit and hairstyles that teens wear and the way these teens behave. Again, this assumption doesn’t prove true. There are many fine teenagers who have pink hair and who dress like rock stars. Parents may assume that they have all the answers to teens’ problems and that they know exactly what teens are going through because they were teenagers once. But this assumption also doesn’t always prove true. Parents forget that each generation of teenagers has different problems. Parents make these assumptions about their teens because they love them, care about them and worry about them. And teens give their parents plenty of things to worry about! But if these assumptions don’t help either, then what can? Parents and teens need to communicate better each other. Instead of shouting at their teens when they are worried about them, parents need to be open, accepting, and understanding. Teens, on the other hand, should not be afraid to talk to their parents. They need to approach their parents as the loving, caring people they are. After all, recent surveys indicate that many parents today are understanding, accepting, and yes even cool!