Raising teens is a tricky part of most parents’ lives. Your child is no longer your little boy or girl and is instead on the verge of entering adulthood.
With this transition, there are a ton of crazy emotions and hormones in your teen. It can feel overwhelming for your teen to process, let alone for you and your family to handle.
You might have noticed that your teenager is becoming more distant from you. This can be difficult for many parents to understand as they might have previously had a close relationship with their child.
Understanding what might be causing your teen to be distant from you is important. Let’s go over six reasons why this may be the case.
Feel like they don’t have anything in common with you
Your teenager might be distant from you because they feel like they don’t have anything in common with you. As your child grows and develops, they may start to see the world differently than you do. This can cause a rift between you two and make it difficult for them to communicate with you.
It might help to find an activity both you and your teen can enjoy. You might have to do some investigation, but you might become closer with your teen if you can find an activity you both enjoy.
Think you’re too busy to spend time with them
Another reason your teen might be distant from you is that they feel like you’re too busy to spend time with them. You’re probably juggling many things as a parent, and it can be difficult to find time to connect with your teen.
You should ensure to carve out some time each week to spend with your teen. This can be quality time where you talk and connect or do an activity together.
Might feel like you boss them around too much
Your teen might be distant from you is because they feel like you boss them around too much. As a parent, it’s important to set boundaries for your child, but it’s also important to be respectful. If your teen feels like you’re not giving them enough space or are constantly telling them what to do, they’re going to push you away.
Try to find a balance between setting boundaries and being respectful. Your teen will likely test the waters, so it’s important to be patient and understanding.
They’re embarrassed by you
It’s not uncommon for teens to feel like their parents are embarrassing. Often, teens try to act cool to impress their peers. In an effort to act cool, teens might avoid hanging with their parents in fear of being ridiculed or being perceived as less cool by their peers.
This can be a hard one for parents to handle. There’s no easy solution to being “cooler” in the eyes of a teen. In some cases, it’s best just to give your child space. However, you should let them know they can also come with you if they have a problem.
May feel like you’re never satisfied
Some teens might feel they can never live up to their parents’ expectations. This can cause them to avoid their parents for fear of disappointing them.
Parents shouldn’t be terribly hard on their teens. It’s best to be understanding of their flaws and give feedback when appropriate. Let them know if there’s something they can improve on and what they’re doing right.
Might be dealing with past trauma
Lastly, your teen might be distant from you because they deal with past childhood trauma. This could be anything from a death in the family to being abused. If your teen isn’t comfortable talking about what’s going on, they’ll likely push you away.
It’s important to be patient and let your teen know that you’re there for them. You can offer to go to therapy with them or be a listening ear.
Final thoughts
As a parent, it’s important to understand what might be causing your teen to be distant from you. If you can pinpoint the issue, you can work on fixing the problem. Try one of the tips mentioned in this article and see if it helps to improve your relationship with your teen.
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