Most parents are happy to welcome their children into a relationship, but many parents decide to steer clear of teen dating. They’ve been through it themselves and remember the awkwardness that comes along with being in love at such a young age. But, when you have a teenage son or daughter who wants to start exploring relationships early on, you’ll need to be the one who steps up and starts talking to them about dating. This can be a scary task, but it can also be quite rewarding. After all, you’re helping your teenager get ready for what will most likely be the most exciting time of their life!
It’s important that you’re as open and honest with your teenager as possible. This is a time when they need to know that they can come to you with any questions or concerns they might have, no matter how embarrassing it might feel for them.
That being said, you’ll want to use the following tips in order to talk about dating with your teenager.
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Don’t talk down at them:
When you get caught up in a heated debate with your teenager, it can be tempting to talk down at them as if they were children. But, this is something that both you and they need to avoid at all costs. You want your teenage son or daughter to feel respected by you, and if you talk down to them during a discussion about dating, it can cause some serious issues.
Don’t judge their decisions:
If your teenage son or daughter comes home with someone that you don’t approve of, it can be tempting to judge their decision without giving them a chance to explain themselves. But, that is something that you will want to avoid. Instead, ask them about their relationship and why they chose the person they’re with. It may be uncomfortable for you at first, but it can really help open a discussion about dating.
Give them some alone time:
If your teenager tries to talk to you about dating and you get the impression they want to be alone, then it’s best that you give them the time they need. Maybe they don’t want to share their personal feelings with you right now. If this is the case, respect that and give them space until they do decide to talk about it.
Make sure they know you love them:
This might seem like an obvious tip but it’s extremely important that you make your teenager feel loved and supported. Tell them how happy you will be when they finally do find someone to love and give them some words of encouragement.
As a parent, it can be easy to get worked up over the thought of your son or daughter dating. But, as long as you take on this task with a positive attitude and an open mind, it shouldn’t be too difficult to talk about relationships with your teenager.
Blessing Iyamadiken loves the art of storytelling and enjoys creating all types of content from news to entertainment. She is also a feminist and very passionate about Gender Equality. In her spare time, she loves to read or binge on Netflix.
