“My son and I used to be close, he used to treat me as his best friend and share his feeling as well as his daily happenings with me. It gave me immense satisfaction to know that my son trusted me enough to talk to me openly about things which bothered him! As they say, time changes everything; my son too has changed with time…

He no more finds it important to talk to me or even spend time with me. I didn’t bother much about this in the beginning attributing it to the ‘growing up’ phase that he was going through, but it continued on and now I find that our relationship has been reduced to a mere ‘Hello’ and ‘Bye’!

Teenage is the time when your child goes through lot of changes as they start looking different physically and go through lot of emotional changes too. Their way of thinking changes along with their attitude towards life.

Crankiness, being stubborn, being disrespectful are common symptoms which every parent has to deal with. Coming home late, exploring new areas not just geographically but emotionally and physically too, demanding more pocket money along with many more things should be accepted by parents as part and parcel of their child growing up. But there are few things which can help you deal with your teenage child and also help you in having a control on what he is doing.

Below is the list of things which can help you manage your teenager’s wayward behavior:

Be open: Your child is no more a kid now; he is a growing up and needs someone to guide him in the right direction. College life, peer pressure, discovering his individuality can all be very confusing for him and he can act up by lying to you, disobeying you, staying out late at nights etc. He might even booze and try smoking. Don’t impose restrictions directly because it is common not to adhere to those restrictions at his age. Talk with them and set limitation by explaning them their drawbacks and benefits.

Set Rules: Coming home late, going for parties, wandering off to places, are bound to be a part of his college life. Remember even you did all things which you are son is doing now. Set a curfew, beyond which he cannot come home late or go out of the house. By doing this, you’ll ensure that he won’t feel as if you’re snatching away his freedom from him.

Don’t lose your temper: Teenagers go through a lot of hormonal changes making them subject to impulsive behaviors. So don’t be surprised if you come home late and find out that he has gone out for a movie. By maintaining your cool, not only will you set a good example, you will also show him how you can sort your differences in a civilized manner. 

Impart Sex Education: Teenage is age when your “child” learns a lot about his/her body and starts getting curious. Learn to accept this curiosity as part of his growing up and help them deal with it in a constructive manner. Talking to them about sex will not only put them at ease and take your relationship further; it will also ensure that they come to you before trying anything.

Give space: One of the most crucial things parents forget is their own teen years. Remember how tough life was when you had to explain everything to your parents ? Well your child is going through the same phase. You can make it easier for both of you by trying to give him enough space to make his own decisions.To read more about Managing Teenage Behaviour by Medimanage.com  

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