6 keys to understanding and treating a teenage son
Adolescence is a stage of change and sometimes of rebellion, so it can be difficult for a father to manage the relationship with a child of this age. In this vital period, adolescents can experience hormonal changes, situations of identity search and frustrations that can determine their behavior and the relationship with their loved ones.
The relationship with parents, due to their closeness and their attempt to control their behavior, can cause complex situations and conflicts of great intensity. Largely because teens want to be more independent and live life in its own way.
Many parents go through delicate situations when dealing with their children. In this article, I propose you some tips to understand and deal with your teenager .
- Related article: "Adolescents at home: 7 educational and communicative keys for parents"
Adolescence is a complicated stage
Adolescence is a difficult stage and many parents can feel overwhelmed . We have all been adolescents, and we know how the relationship with our parents can become tense during this stage. It is at this moment when people begin to explore new horizons and understand that there is a world waiting outside the family. A teenager is more sensitive to events that happen away from the family nucleus, which prepares them for later stages and for adult life.
This stage is key to achieving sufficient confidence, a strong personality, and to be a successful adult in different areas of life, and in these years one learns to gain acceptance from others, especially those of the same age. It is no longer enough for the family to accept and support their children, and for those parents who understand this change, will help this one grow healthier in the psychological aspect and be more prepared to face the challenges that life may require in the future.
- Related article: "Toxic families: 4 ways in which they cause mental disorders"
Tips to understand and treat a teenage son
Being the father of a teenage son can have hard times, and conflicts can appear at any time. That is why it is necessary to know how to manage the situation effectively. Now, first of all it is essential to be empathetic and understand the behavior of our adolescent children. How to do it? Following the advice shown below.
1. Have the will to understand
It is easy to get carried away by emotions and get into conflicts when a child seems to go to theirs. But interpersonal relationships with children of this age are complicated by a number of reasons. It's not about giving in to the whims of a child, but understanding the situation as it is will help you better manage conflicts and make wise decisions .
Therefore, we must strive to adopt the perspective of the son or daughter, and take into account the whole set of elements that are influencing their way of living life and to value their own happiness and concerns.
2. Think about when you were a teenager
Following the line of the previous point, remember how you were in your time as a teenager. To understand your child it is good to put yourself on his skin and think about him at his age. Maybe you were not the same, but you were not perfect either. The need for independence, wanting to explore , the search for identity ... are characteristic behaviors of this age that can generate family conflicts.
3. Respect your needs
It is easy to think that, by being a father, you can adopt an authoritarian stance on your child. However, it is always better to listen to their needs and reach agreements.
In this way, you can know where the limits are and allow certain levels of independence without having to pass them. This alternative is much better than using dominance, which introduces another obstacle in the relationship and makes effective communication difficult.
4. Let him make his own mistakes
Experience can be a good way to learn, because the impact it has on us can positively mark us if we know how to analyze the situation and develop resources so as not to make mistakes again. Do not be an overly protective father. As far as possible, and As long as there is no great risk to your child, let him experience .
5. Communicate with him or her
One of the biggest mistakes that parents can make is to adopt a position of superiority and domination over their children. Because, as in any interpersonal relationship, communication is always more effective. If your child feels respected, loved, and communication flows, he will find in you the support he needs to grow as a person.
- You may be interested: "The 8 most common mental disorders in adolescence"
6. Listen actively
This point is closely related to the previous one, and because it improves communication. It is not about hearing what he says, but about listening to him in his verbal and non-verbal language. If you remember your time as a teenager, you will know that it was not easy. Now is the time to be by your son's side . After all, one of the reasons why many teenage sons and daughters underestimate the possibility of talking with their parents is that the latter do not understand them, and not listening actively confirms this prejudice.
How to behave in front of a rebellious teenager?
Some parents, those with rebellious children, can really have a hard time with how their child behaves. They are young questioners, angry , that many times do not respect the rules and that they can get to see the parents as the enemies.
Many parents in this situation do not know how to react and what they should do in the daily situations they live. Although not guilty, they can be found in complex and painful contexts. It is not easy to manage this situation.
If you feel identified with these lines, in the article "Rebellious adolescents: 6 tips and reflections for parents in distress" you can know more about how to deal with this situation.
