A teenager or a parent to a teenager, which is more challenging?

1. 0

   Dchosen_01posted 13 years ago

   The world has changed when compared to some 10 to 20 years back. Young children are getting so wild, curious, adventurous, sexually active and sometimes its baffling to know that even a 12 year old can be defined by these afore-mentioned attributes.
   
   As teenagers, most children face the uphill task of either conforming to them or resisting them in which peer pressure is on the standby to make them compromise. Also if they want to compromise pressure from parents and much weird rules and 'sticking around' will always get on their nerves. All hormones are ripe and very active but some external suppressants are standing on the way.
   
   What about the parent of a teenager. They stand in between loving the teenager and at the same time training them on what is right or wrong in this sensitive stage of their lives when everything they feel and want to do seem right. Its really tough to balance the situation as a parent but to be real, who is facing more of the challenge?

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   1. 60

      Kimberly Bunchposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      It depends on the situation and circumstances. Kids need guidance, love, acceptance, and encouragement to do the things they are interested in doing. Lets say with sports, or other types of interests. If a teen has found interests that are healthy and positive it will steer them away from sex and trouble associated with gangs, or hanging out with the wrong crowd, using drugs, fighting with parents etc..
      
      The key thing is for a child/teen to discover what they enjoy doing. What they like doing that is healthy and safe.
      
      Any outdoor activities, reading, arts and crafts, certain hobbies, etc.. Find the passion, the drive that is within you for the parents and the youth/teen and things will go well.
      
      Focus, goals, self discipline, encouragement, healthy dose of self esteem goes a long way and not having idle time on your hands to do nothing.
      
      Irresponsible sex, using drugs and/or alcohol always creates problems. So does any form of mental and physical abuse.
      
      Healthy lifestyles with positive role models should add plenty of positive traits for success and lack of turmoil.

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         Dchosen_01posted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Wow! This is already a hub. Thanks Kimberly Bunch....
         So its easier for the parent then.......

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   2. 63

      prettydarkhorseposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Both, I wrote a research paper about this, sexual risk taking behaviors among the youth, and it has been found out that there are behavioral changes really some decades ago when you compare sexual and risk taking behaviors of the youth, the most important factor is that, teen-agers today are bolder, more wilder, more hotter when it comes to their sexual life. They initiate sexual activity at a younger age when you compare it a decade ago.
      
      meaning sexual initiation -- average age is lower comparing to decades ago, there is also multiple sex partnership, increase in other risk taking behaviors like smoking, drugs and drinking alcohols -- all the average age when they start to do these risk behaviors is earlier. Youth are into different vices in an earlier ages more than ever.
      
      Factors contributing to these are: stability of marriage of the parents -- effect of the ones who mostly raised these children up to age 15, kinds of peers/friends, continued schooling, mass media -- tv print, broadcast influences.
      
      using regression analysis our study found out that peer factor is very important (aside from parents the number one single influence for the youth are their friends) in this respect plus the monitoring and proper guidance of parents
      
      Sexuality education which encompasses right to know about their sexuality and understanding their questions (the youth)is very important, the parents are the best source of knowledge about sexuality not the peers.
      I think both the parents and caretakers of the youth (those who are raising them in the absence of parents) plus the youth who are undergoing fast physiological changes are equally burdened and are facing more challenges more than ever.

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   Disturbiaposted 13 years ago

   LOL, easier for the parent?  Not this parent.  I have two teenage daughters and believe me... nothing about either one of them is easy.

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3. 84

   rebekahELLEposted 13 years ago

   there are so many variables for this one! a lot depends on the home environment and what has happened in the family up to this point. or what may happen to a family during these years. some parents go through divorces or may have responsibilities with their own aging parents, death in the family, etc. 
   
   I think it could be equally challenging depending on circumstances. I have heard girls can be more challenging to parent, but I don't know by experience. I have two sons.

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4. 69

   lrohnerposted 13 years ago

   As a mother of three grown children, all I can say about teenagers is
   
   AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
   RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
   GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
   !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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   1. 84

      rebekahELLEposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      

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