Reasons Children Do Not Share Their Teenage Problems with Parents

Is your teenage son or daughter angry and frustrated all the time? Having Teenage Problems with Parents. Huh!!

Does your teenager exhibit violent behavior?

Are you worried about your teenagers’ lack of interest in meeting people and socializing?

Anger, violence, Frustration, Depression, and Isolation are some of the common issues faced by teens. These peculiar behaviors are a result of some underlying problems such as self-image issues, bullying, peer pressure, abuse and so on. However, adolescents do not prefer to share their teenage problems with parents as they are unsure about your response.

Parenting teens is a challenging task. You are always worried about the whereabouts of the child, his/her activities, lack of interest to communicate with you, and the seemingly endless fights about trivial issues. Though these issues seem to be impossible to handle, there are some useful tips to overcome the challenges faced by parents of teenagers. These tips will help you to control the chaos and guide your teen to transition through the tough teenage years and help him/her to blossom into a well-rounded adult.

Before you know about the tips to handle teenage problems, it helps to understand why adolescents prefer not to share their teenage problems with parents. 

Lack of Good Rapport

Most parent-child relationships lack rapport. This is one of the main reasons why children drift away from their parents. They get close to their friends and depend on them for solutions to their problems. This, in turn, results in risky behavior, addictions, peer pressure, etc.

As a parent, you have to work towards developing a good rapport with the child. This requires consistent efforts from both the parents. You have to spend time with the child and discuss issues that are bothering them. It helps to have open communication with the child to encourage him/her to discuss any issue that is bothering them.

Lack of Mutual Respect

Mutual respect is one of the foundation stones for building a strong and close relationship with your teenager. The pet peeve of most teenagers is a lack of respect from their parents. They do not like being treated as children and crave for respect and validation. 

It is your duty as a parent to acknowledge the feelings of your child. You have to respect their views and opinions. Make them a part of the discussions and ask for their views. Ask them for their point of view before taking any decision pertaining to their life. It will make them feel respected and they will show you the same respect. 

Developing mutual respect will help you to handle challenges faced by parents of teenagers like defiant behavior, rebellious attitude, endless fights, etc. it will help the child to develop individuality and also teach them to respect everyone around them.

Lack of Trust

Teenage children complain that their parents do not trust them. They feel that discussing teenage problems with parents is a waste of time as parents do not understand the underlying reasons for the problem but blame the child. 

Show your teens that you trust them with all your heart. This will make them feel responsible for their actions. They will not hesitate to share information about their activities or discuss any problems as they are aware that you will trust them and give positive advice. 

Now that we know the 3 main reasons why children do not share their problems with parents, let us discuss some helpful tips to overcome the challenges faced by parents of teenagers.

Tips to Overcome Teenage Problems with Parents

Show Love and Empathy

Teenagers are going through tough times mentally and physically. They crave acceptance, love, and empathy from their parents. Connect with your teen on a daily basis. Have dinner together or go for a walk. Put your phones away and give complete attention to the child. Let them know that you are always there to address their concerns, whenever they need you. Initially, they may be skeptical but once they are sure that you will not judge them, they will gradually open up.

Pay Close Attention to Their Behavior patterns

Sometimes depression and other mental health disorders may be the reason for your teen’s weird behavior. You have to pay close attention to any sudden changes in their behavior. Some red flags are low attendance at school, General lack of interest towards life, low self-esteem, drug abuse, alcohol addiction, risky behaviors, screen addiction, bullying, etc. Identify behavior changes and get timely help from professionals to bring back your teen to normalcy before it is too late.

Add Balance To Your Teen’s Life

You can also enroll them in out of school programs that develop an understanding of the world around them. These experiential learning programs will broaden their understanding and help them to make new connections.  

Lastly, you have to remember that taking care of yourself is important too. Handling teenagers can be exhausting and sometimes you may lose your cool. But remember teenage is a passing phase and it won’t last forever. Tell yourself that both you and your child will get out of this critical phase together and develop a strong bond for life. You can connect with other parents to discuss the challenges faced by parents of teenagers and find out ways to overcome them. You can enroll in support groups or take help from therapists and professional counselors.