As a parent, few things are scarier than the prospect of your teen dating. You hope their dating partners are kind and respectful, but what do if your teen brings home someone in the next age bracket?
Zishan Khan points out. The key here is to change their perspective on what dating someone truly means. Before barreling into their bedroom and forbidding them from dating altogether, take some time to assess the situation β cooling off will prevent the talk from torpedoing into disaster. This will ensure they continue to feel comfortable coming to you openly. In the event of your child seeing an older person in secret, the same rules apply β even though your head will understandably be spinning.
Yes, this includes conversations with your spouse or fellow parent. And now is when you need all parties to be on your side, so staying cool, calm, and collected is crucial. Address the secrecy and explore why they felt the need to hide the relationship. For instance, you may consider insisting on meeting only in public spaces and forbidding overnight visits.
Supervise and monitor, without being overly intrusive. Talking the situation out with a trusted pro is a solid move, adds Khan. Explore potential underlying issues. Sometimes a teenager might gravitate toward older individuals due to unmet emotional needs or underlying challenges, such as low self-esteem or simply a desire for independence.
A lot of the time these relationships are the result of a child not truly appreciating their value and that they are worthy of respect. Foster independence while trying to guide them. Encourage critical thinking so they can evaluate their own choices and recognize potential concerns on their own. This will also help them with their future relationships as well. Send Help. So, how can you handle this sticky situation? A psychiatric clinician is here to help. Pregnancy tips Pregnancy loss Baby names Delivery Postpartum.
