Amazing ways Teens change | Sunday Observer

Amazing ways Teens change

6 January, 2019

4. Your kids will become more organised. Remember that sloppy and disorganised 17-year-old daughter who left her clothes all over her room and screamed at you about her missing soccer clothes? I’m quite sure you do. Surprise! At 27, that once 17-year-old may come home and not only do her own laundry but may also offer to do yours as well. Yes, I have experienced this first hand. I love when my daughter comes home. I can’t even believe how beautifully she folds my laundry. And, no, she was never asked to do this for me in her teens. At that point, I too, just wanted my child to relax a bit and be a bit more emotionally regulated. Laundry was never even on my list. A peaceful household was my priority.

5. You won’t even believe what I am about to tell you next unless you have young adult children as well as teenagers. Your young adult kids will start to become interested in you. Yep, you read that right. They will start to ask about your history, your life experiences, your opinions, and even how your day went. You will be teaching and reinforcing a wonderful life skill and that is the importance of engaging in reciprocity in conversation. We all love people who listen and once your kids do that please do not forget to tell them how much you appreciate that.

6. Your kids will become less self-conscious and less embarrassed by you. It’s a shame that they are ever embarrassed by you but that is part of being a teenager. As they become more comfortable with who they are they will no longer see you as a direct reflection of them. So, feel free to start singing out loud again.

7. Your young adult children will become less susceptible to issues of peer approval and rejection. The teenage brain has difficulty handling perceived or real peer rejection. The more developed young adult brain is better equipped to handle these sensitive issues. This translates into a child who is less likely to engage in behaviours simply to fit in. Now, isn’t that comforting?

Parent-child issues exist at every age but that is for another time. At this moment, I hope you get some comfort from knowing what is in store for you over the next several years.

- Psychology Today

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