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Eventually, your teen may want to have a boyfriend or a girlfriend. Most parents become concerned at this point because these relationships are new, and their child may be feeling natural sexual urges and want to explore. Of course, the consequences of teen sex could be an unwanted pregnancy. Frank conversations can help prevent such a tragedy. There are lots of topics to raise when your child wants to date. One is to help them recognize the signs of an abusive relationship. For example, when a young teen, feeling his or her natural urges, continues to pressure the other person to have sex even after they have said no. And there are other warning signs, such as a pattern of controlling, criticizing, or mocking your child. It’s important for your child to learn to recognize these behaviors because if they ignore them, later, as a young adult, they could marry someone who ends up abusing them. Again, frank conversations can help prevent such a tragedy. These talks are your opportunity—if your teen is open to them and takes them to heart. The problem is that many kids avoid these talks or blow them off. And not just because they think they know better, but because the parent and child may not have established a relationship of mutual respect and trust. What matters is how you talk to your child in the various situations that come up every day. Without effective communication skills, a parent can unintentionally make a child feel misunderstood and disrespected. I strongly recommend that you learn more about these skills and how to practice them until they become your go-to responses. Two great guides: Connect with Your Teen: How to Master the Top 10 Parent-Child Communication Skills and Parents Coaching Parents. |
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