Many parents claim the hardest part of parenting is when their children are infants, but things supposedly get easier as they grow older. While it’s true that kids become more independent, giving parents more personal time, new challenges emerge—especially during the teenage years. As children grow, parents must also adjust to their child’s evolving independence. Here are nine real-life stories that show how teenagers can require more attention than babies.
1. The Struggles of Loving Two Daughters
I have two grown daughters, and I’m ashamed to admit I love one more than the other. My older daughter was long-awaited, but she’s always been distant, even as a child. We tried everything to bond with her, but she was never affectionate and acted coldly. She moved away for college at 18 and now only contacts us for her grandmother’s birthday. While I do love her, it’s hard to compare my affection for her to my younger daughter, who is warm, kind, and empathetic.
2. Pull-Ups as a Stress Relief Tool
I’ve always wanted to master pull-ups but never had the motivation—until I became the parent of a teenage daughter. Parenting her can be difficult, but I love her deeply. When our conversations start to go in circles, I head to the pull-up bar we installed at home. After doing a few reps, I feel more centered and ready to engage again. Over time, this routine helped me master pull-ups while also managing my stress as a parent.
3. A 12-Year-Old Who Knows His Bedtime
My sister enforces strict rules about her son’s computer usage, ensuring he’s off by 11 p.m. When I babysat him one evening, around 10:40 p.m., he asked why I hadn’t reminded him of his bedtime. I responded, “You’re 12; you can figure it out.” His reply? “You don’t care about me or my eyesight!” He then calmly went to bed, leaving me bewildered by his maturity and independence.
Real-Life Stories That Show Teenagers Require More Attention Than Babies
20.09.2024Nare
Many parents say that the hardest part is with infants, but things get easier as they grow. This is somewhat accurate—children do become more independent, giving parents more personal time. However, new challenges arise as they grow, such as teenage rebellion. Parents must also come to terms with the fact that their child is no longer just a kid but an independent individual. Here are 9 stories about raising teenagers.
1. I have two grown daughters, but I’m ashamed to admit that I love one more than the other. You might judge me for this, but it’s hard to love someone who constantly keeps you at a distance. My older daughter was long-awaited, but even as a child, she was never affectionate and often acted coldly. We tried to bond with her and encourage her to be empathetic, but that’s just not who she is. At 18, she moved away for school and rarely contacts us now, except for her grandmother’s birthday. Though I do love her, my affection for her is far less than for my younger daughter, who is loving and kind.
2. I’ve always wanted to master pull-ups but lacked the drive to stick with it—until I had a teenage daughter. Parenting her isn’t easy, but I love her dearly and try to remain patient. Whenever my patience runs out and our conversations start going in circles, I head to the pull-up bar we installed at home and do some reps. Afterward, I cool off with a glass of water, feeling ready to engage again. Little by little, I’ve managed to do full pull-ups without assistive bands, thanks to this stress-relief routine.
3. My sister has strict rules about her son’s computer usage, making sure he’s off by 11 p.m. each night. One evening, when I was babysitting, my nephew, around 10:40 p.m., asked why I hadn’t reminded him about his bedtime. I told him, “You’re 12; you can figure it out.” His response? “You don’t care about me or my eyesight!”—a reference to his mom’s usual warning. After that, he calmly made his bed and went to sleep. It left me wondering, what just happened?
4. I overheard a conversation between a mother and her teenage daughter on the subway. The mom suggested buying the girl a new phone for school since her old one was ruined at camp. When the girl asked for a Samsung like her friend’s, the mom pushed for an iPhone, saying it was more in line with what the other girls had. But the daughter reasoned that a cheaper phone was more practical, worrying that an iPhone could be stolen and suggesting they use the saved money for her grandmother’s dental care instead. I felt like I had stepped into an alternate reality hearing such wisdom from a young teen.
5. We have two teenage children who constantly bicker. To escape the madness, my husband and I retreat to our nearby country house on weekends. We always invite the kids, but they never come along since the internet there is spotty. Leaving them home with a stocked fridge while we enjoy a peaceful evening of uninterrupted snacks and movies keeps us sane. Meanwhile, the kids manage just fine without us, cooking and cleaning as long as their Wi-Fi works.
6. When my sons were growing up, I never imposed strict rules on them, allowing their decisions to be their own responsibility. This approach seemed to shorten their rebellious phases, and by the age of 25, they had settled into sensible, practical lives. Now, when I suggest fun outings, they often decline. One son turned down a barbecue invite to clean the house, while the other decided to spend his vacation installing flooring. Meanwhile, at 52, I’m still the one biking through the night!
7. Recently, our teenage son brought home a girlfriend with blue hair, a nose piercing, and a spider tattoo behind her ear. While my husband was uneasy, I welcomed them warmly, baking a cake and giving them money for the movies. After they left, my husband expressed his disapproval of our son’s choice. To ease his concerns, I pulled out our old school album and showed him pictures of me at their age—green hair, multiple piercings. I’ve grown up since then, now a pediatrician with no bad habits. I believe everyone deserves room to explore and make mistakes without being judged.
8. My 15-year-old daughter has a friend who’s five years older, and though it raised some eyebrows, I trust her judgment. They share common interests and met through social media. Recently, she went to his birthday sleepover in the city, which didn’t bother me since I knew his family. That evening, I received a call from his mother, reassuring me that my daughter was safe and would be sleeping on the living room sofa. I thanked her but thought to myself—ultimately, the person I trust the most in this situation is my daughter.
9. Last night, my 22-year-old son took me out for a walk! After a long day at work, I wanted to go for a stroll, but my husband wasn’t interested, and my daughter was out with her friends. So, when my son came home, I half-jokingly asked to tag along with him and his friends, and to my surprise, he agreed. We strolled through the neighborhood, grabbed fast food, and later rented electric scooters. It was my first time riding one, and I couldn’t have been happier.
4. A Teenager’s Practical Wisdom
I overheard a mother and her teenage daughter talking on the subway. The mom suggested buying her a new phone for school, as her old one had been ruined at camp. When the girl asked for a Samsung like her friend’s, the mom insisted on an iPhone. Surprisingly, the daughter reasoned that a cheaper phone would be more practical since she feared an iPhone might get stolen. She even suggested they use the saved money to help with her grandmother’s dental care. I was amazed by her thoughtfulness and maturity.
5. A Peaceful Getaway from Bickering Teens
My husband and I have two teenagers who constantly bicker. To escape the chaos, we retreat to our country house on weekends. The kids never come with us because the Wi-Fi is spotty, leaving them home with a stocked fridge. We enjoy peaceful evenings with snacks and movies, while the teens manage just fine as long as they have their internet.
6. Raising Independent Sons
When my sons were growing up, I didn’t impose strict rules on them. I let them be responsible for their own decisions. This approach seemed to shorten their rebellious phases, and by their mid-twenties, they became practical, sensible adults. Ironically, when I suggest fun outings, they often decline. One turned down a barbecue to clean the house, and the other used his vacation time to install flooring. Meanwhile, at 52, I’m still the one biking late at night!
7. A Nostalgic Reminder for Judging Teen Choices
Our teenage son recently brought home a girlfriend with blue hair, a nose piercing, and a spider tattoo behind her ear. While my husband was uncomfortable, I welcomed them warmly, baked a cake, and gave them money for the movies. Afterward, my husband voiced his disapproval of our son’s choice. To calm him down, I pulled out our old school album and showed him pictures of me—green hair and multiple piercings. I’ve since become a pediatrician, and I believe every teenager deserves the chance to explore without being judged.
8. Trusting My Daughter’s Judgment
My 15-year-old daughter has a friend who’s five years older, which raised some concerns, but I trust her judgment. They share common interests and met on social media. Recently, she went to his birthday sleepover, and I felt comfortable because I knew his family. Later that evening, his mother called to reassure me that my daughter was safe and sleeping on the living room sofa. While I appreciated the call, I realized the person I trust most in these situations is my daughter.
9. An Unexpected Walk with My Grown Son
After a long day at work, I wanted to go for a walk, but my husband wasn’t interested, and my daughter was out with friends. When my 22-year-old son came home, I half-jokingly asked to join him and his friends for a stroll. To my surprise, he agreed! We walked through the neighborhood, grabbed fast food, and rented electric scooters. It was my first time on a scooter, and I couldn’t have been happier.
