Parents often like to take on their child's problems throughout the adolescent years. Supporting a child though also means allowing for their growth of independence.
Independence strikes at the heart of the parent-child relationship.
We go from raising our children through infancy and total dependence to the onset of adolescent in the blink of an eye. What happened to the times when your child asked for helped tying his shoes or the gentle nudge to help with homework?
Adolescence pushes parents and kids in opposite directions.
Parents cling to the dependent relationship they have grown to know. Adolescents strive for a more opportunities to show their independence and originality.
How can families grow closer together during the tumultuous middle school years while trying to accommodate both sets of needs?
Volumes have been written on the relationships of teens and their parents. Yet, the question remains unanswered.
Here's a tip to leave you with: Listen. Listen with the ears of a parent who wants to hear her baby's first word. The moments you share may be changing yet when you listen and wait for these moments they can be just as fulfilling.
