It’s no secret that parents and their teens often clash.
“Imagine you’ve spent 15 years nurturing a plant,” explained Dr Bradford Wiles, an Associate Professor and Extension Specialist at K-State’s Department of Human Ecology, focusing on parent-child relationships.
“Now, picture that plant about to be dropped out of a helicopter, transitioning from life indoors to the outdoors. It’s terrifying, right? They’re not angry about the helicopter jump; they’re scared. Really scared. Because it’s not the fall that’s dangerous; it’s the sudden stop.”
For many teenagers, understanding their parents’ rules can be challenging, whether it’s curfews, academic expectations, or chores.
This struggle is common among teens, but regardless of whether parents are strict, lenient, or somewhere in between, their decisions are typically driven by concern for their teens’ well-being.
In the…
