Living with a Teen

What Teens Expect from Parents

Testing the limits is part of an adolescent's growing-up process. Although they may complain about rules and limits, teens need to know what is acceptable and unacceptable to their parents in order to develop their own values and morals.

Teens also need their parents to:

• Express concern, but not criticism.
• Stay interested, but respect their privacy.
• Be alert to their sensitivities, without joking or teasing.
• Look for positive ways to solve a problem and not dwell on the negative.
• Catch them doing something right.
• Be available, without hovering over them.
• Show their love, even if teens don't seem to care.

Last Modified: September 5, 2006