Teen and Parent Relationship

Today I was confronted by my parents about the grades that I have been getting. And they were not the best of grades from my parents perspective of me. At first I was really mad at them to dare tell me how to have my grades be. It is my life, as I thought, so why must they control what I do with it. I was insolent and angry and could not see their side of it at all. As a 16 year old junior in high school I want more independence and not to be so under my parents wing anymore. While I am getting older and do have a job it is important that I am given more freedom and responsibility it is also important that I do not abuse any of my rights. It is also important for the parents of a growing teen to look back when they used to be a teen and remember what they felt like in result to their parents. There will always be a sort of tension and that is because the teen (or I, in this case) is growing into an adult. They are very liable to mistakes and fall outs but getting after them and secluding them even more is not always the answer. While there are some aspects that a teen could get involved it that do need a harsh reprimanding and loving guidance there are also things that should be left up to the child. The more restraints and rules a parent puts on a child, the more the child wants to rebel and fight and they also lose the feeling of being trusted and loved by their parent. Often times, a lessor hold on your child, along with showing them the love of Christ and his forgiveness and guidance, they will be more willing to turn back to you, finding more of safety instead of judgement. Remember that your teen is going to be out on their own and will need a freedom to find out themselves without you. And for the teens, remember that your parents do love you and are scared of losing you and so they do have rules and "sit down meetings" so as to help you. The greatest threat to a parent and teen relationship is the loss of understanding one another. Listen and love each other, and there will be a much better bond between the two.