Transform parenting stress and anxiety to confidence and connection with advice from a pediatrician and mom on a mission to empower parents. I'm Dr. Alison Escalante, author of the book Sigh, See, Start: How to be the parent your child needs in a world that won't stop pushing.
The Real Reason Teenagers Find Their Parents Embarrassing May Surprise You
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Hi Parents, These days my parenting adventures involve teenagers, which is why I jumped at the chance to read and respond to an article in the New York Times about how teenagers suddenly become allergic to their parents around age 13. Wow! It's like a light switch. The bottom line? Teenagers are a lot like toddlers. They are going through a struggle to achieve their own independence. And they still need to know their parents are right there to back them up and love them. Right around 13 years old, biology tells teenagers that it is time to form their own identities as a person separate from their parents. They find it exciting, stressful and tiring. Most parents know that their teenagers are rejecting certain things about them. After all, their teenagers state this clearly. And parents may remember doing this with their own parents. How many of us said to ourselves, "Ugh, I will never do that when I grow up." Or "I can't believe my mom does her hair that way." "My dad is so uncool." Of course, these days our kids call us cringe instead of uncool, because the concept of uncool is so dated... and that's cringe. But the second main reason teenagers find their parents embarrassing is surprising. Teenagers are also embarrassed by the things they like about or share with their parents. They have to find a way to make it their own, and they can be extreme about it. Instead of doing the things you used to do together with you, now they might continue to pursue that interest on their own or only with their friends. There's a lot more to it and lots of survival tips for parents in my blog post and a more technical breakdown in my article about this for Forbes. Need more help with your teenagers?Teenagers are a whole different thing from younger children, and when you have them it's a great time to do a parenting tune up. If you haven't read it yet, consider reading Sigh, See, Start. It's full of stories from teens and their parents, and the techniques are custom made for this stage of parenting.
Until next time, have a wonderful week! Dr. Alison |
Hi, I’m a Pediatrician & Parenting Author
Transform parenting stress and anxiety to confidence and connection with advice from a pediatrician and mom on a mission to empower parents. I'm Dr. Alison Escalante, author of the book Sigh, See, Start: How to be the parent your child needs in a world that won't stop pushing.
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