If there is one area in our lives where most of us struggle, it’s relationships. I read a news article which stated that Daughters aged 14 years old are the most difficult for parents to raise. Apart from studying, I actually can not remember what I was like when was 14 years age, however I do remember what my schoolmates did at the time, such as: smoking, dancing in the club, seeking b/g friend, and hanging out with a group of people or just reading. At the time, Internet wasn’t exciting like nowadays so therefore computer wasn’t a threat.
School life was very competitive in the old days and is still the same after these many years, but the flashpoints for girls have not changed, the list below shows items which were discussed in the article:
- Wanting to be independent
- Wanting to grow up too quickly
- Peer pressure
- Raging hormones
- Puberty
- Not having a sufficient allowance
- Thinking she is “too fat”
- Fitting in with friends
- Privacy
- Dabbling with alcohol & cigarette
These flashpoints make me think back about myself, look at the teens around me and wonder whether is a world wide situation, as it represents the attitudes of the teens on how annoying is and embarrassing this stage could be, with uncertain moods from time to time. I feel furious and question myself: how would I treat my own teen if I had one and that scares me.
Everything is become make sense, I did want to be left alone and felt independent; I did want to do what my parents did and dreamed of to being an adult; did not like to be stared at or under the spot light; I was unhappy with the chemical body change but wondered why schoolmates had b/g friend; moaned about less pocket money and thought I was too fat; did not fit in with friends on some occasions and wanted more privacy. How could the world change so much just because you are a teen, how terrifying for the teens themselves when cope with so many aspects in many circumstances.
Recently I had a chat with one of my girl friends, we discussed about teens’ attitudes and behaviors nowadays; we both agreed as being parents: the more controlling you are, the worse the relationship will be; caring without forcing is essential; respecting their point of views, accepting their rights and support their opinions. We also agreed it would be hard work for the majority parents not to ask the teens to do what they are told, but there you go – this is what parents do.
