Teen Relationships

Many parents are very uncomfortable with their teens entering into romantic relationships at such a young and chaotic stage of their life. It can be very disconcerting for a parent and there is often a fear of dangerous consequences that might come from a romantic relationship such as a disease, an unwanted pregnancy, or some other unforeseen circumstance that might evolve from the relationship. Most parents are concerned about the general well-being of their teen and the influence that it could have on their future. This can also apply to the directions that their education and career path takes - an unexpected pregnancy or a shotgun wedding can dramatically change the plan a teenager might have had for their life.

However it’s important for parents to remember how they felt when they where young and came across someone that they had feelings for. When parents force severe restrictions on their children it can have a myriad of effects but the most common one is completely rebellion so if you ban your teenager from dating of any kind the odds are that they’ll go out and do whatever they can to defy those rules. Dating, while uncomfortable for any parent to watch their teen go though, is often a very beneficial experience for a young teen. If a parent takes the time to set and explain ground rules it can be a much more pleasant experience for both sides of the situation. Parents can feel assured that their requests are being adhered to (such as a curfew, waiting until marriage for intercourse, and an open communication rule between parent and teenager) and teenagers can still feel like they have the freedom to explore what is a very natural part of their life as a growing adolescent while respecting their parents boundaries.

A relationship in the teenage years can be beneficial in a lot of ways. It can open a young person up to learning how to communication and express their feelings to others as well as learning how adult relationships work, how to balance their responsibilities while wanting to spend time with their new boyfriend or girlfriend. These are all skills that can be very useful as an adult and if learned in a safe environment as a teenager they can help a teen make wiser choices as they move through their high school years. They can also help in other areas of life like career and school decisions because of the many social aspects that are learned in a developing relationship.

Overall a parent needn't be overly concerned that their teenager has entered into a relationship. These relationships are usually fairly simplistic and uncomplicated and while they remain in that type of space they are usually of little consequence and not harmful to anyone involved. These young relationships usually consist of little more than sharing lunch and going to the movies but if you have a concern that perhaps more is developing in your teenagers relationship then remember that the key is always communication.