Ah, adolescence. If you were to summarise this period of your life in one word, it would probably be embarrassment. It’s the time when the body changes and there is nothing that you can do or say to stop it – let alone try to control it. More importantly, it’s also the time when your mind changes – you don’t have a fully grown-up brain, but your tastes and interests are shifting away from the toys and joys of childhood. Finally, it’s a time of self-discovery and exploration. You wake up with feelings you’ve never experienced before and thoughts that are completely new about your peers, your parents and yourself. You remember your first diary fondly. It wasn’t high literature, but it was the first secret confident you had – the invisible friend who knew about your crushes, your struggles and your fears.
Needless to say, your teen is going through the exact same things. As a parent, your role is to help them through the changes as best as you can.
You need to have the talk without having it
Girls and boys experience significant bodily transformations during the puberty. While most kids will get to hear about it at school, it doesn’t hurt to have a casual and helpful talk with your teen. Don’t make it embarrassing to them. But keep things clear and simple. For young girls, for instance, it’s a good idea to keep period pads available and let them know where you keep them so that they know where to find them when the moment comes. It’s often a painful and embarrassing moment for girls, so your efforts to keep it straightforward and discreet will be appreciated.
Your teen is growing up; upgrade the bedroom
Let’s be realistic. The fairy princess or Thomas the tank engine decor may not be suitable anymore for your teen’s bedroom. It’s time to give the bedroom a new feel. If you’ve been using standard furniture – a.k.a. furniture that hasn’t been designed for kids only – you should be able to use it again once you’ve redecorated the bedroom. However, items such as children’s wardrobes need to be changed for a grownup alternative – the Rauch wardrobes have a great range of styles for all bedroom types. Similarly, it’s time to ditch the small desk and bed if you haven’t already!
Privacy matters at home
As your child grows up, the need for privacy becomes stronger. It doesn’t mean that your child doesn’t love you anymore. But they want to handle their independence, and the emotions that go with this period of their lives. Your role as a parent is difficult, but you need to respect their privacy – unless you have good reason not to do so. Ultimately, snooping on your teen is never a good idea and can damage your relationship. But these extreme measures should be reserved as a way to tackle alarming issues. In other words, the diary or the bedroom door is not to be opened uninvited.
It’s never easy to adjust to the teenage years. However, you have to understand that the best thing you can do to support your child is to offer advice, a functional space and respect for their privacy. It’s never a smooth period! But with your support, you can help your teen to manage the embarrassing puberty years!