Supporting Your Child’s Journey

Dear Parents,

At Conscious Parenting Revolution, we are dedicated allies of the LGTBQIA2S+ community and committed to supporting parents through the journey of raising children. As parents, we understand that guiding our children through various changes can be a challenging task, particularly when it comes to transitions and transformations that we may not have personally experienced. Parenting during the teenage years can evoke a range of emotions—pride and worry, joy and frustration. This phase of life can be equally demanding for parents as it is for their children.

The parent-child relationship undergoes a fundamental shift as our children embark on the journey to young adulthood. Witnessing this transformation is rewarding, but it also requires us to adapt our parenting style. We need to transition from being mere managers to becoming trusted consultants.

The Transformation From Childhood to Youth

Many parents fear that they may lose their connection with their children during the challenging teenage years. Society often portrays teenagers as having difficult attitudes and wanting little to do with their parents, but this depiction fails to capture the whole story.

In reality, teenagers are going through a process known as individuation—a phase where they form their own independent identities. Although these changes can be normal, they may also be confusing, hurtful, and even a little scary for even the most understanding parent. Creating a safe space for our child’s individuation process becomes crucial for maintaining a happy and healthy parenting relationship.

How to Help Young Children Transition Into Young Adults

While it may seem like our teenagers are pushing us away, the truth is that they still need us during this tumultuous phase of their lives. They face high-stakes decisions daily, from navigating peer pressure and romantic relationships to choosing their paths after graduation.

During this time, they require someone they trust to guide them through these decisions, and that someone can be us. However, here’s the catch-22: the more we try to manage their obstacles or impose our decisions, the more our teenagers will distance themselves. They need to feel independent and autonomous, and failing to acknowledge this need can lead them astray.

Transition from Childhood to Adolescence

So, how should our behavior evolve to best support our teenagers? Here are a few suggestions:

• The Changing Transition to Adulthood: Make your home a judgment-free zone. Our children absorb cues, often unnoticed by us. Have we unintentionally conveyed that we view failing a test as a sign of weakness? If so, our teenagers will be less likely to seek our help when facing academic challenges. Let’s be mindful of how we express our feelings and opinions, ensuring that we don’t discourage open conversations.
• The Transformation From Childhood to Youth: Spend quality time together. Engage in simple activities like running errands or sharing meals. These moments create space for open communication between us and our children. The more available we are without them having to seek us out, the more opportunities they’ll have to open up to us.
• How to Help Young Children Transition Into Young Adults: Respect boundaries. While it’s crucial to be available for our teenagers, it’s equally important not to take it personally when they are not interested in talking. Let’s respect their need for space by refraining from prying or forcing conversations. Sometimes, what they need most is peace and quiet, and honoring that can provide them with the support they require.
• Transition from Childhood to Adolescence: Reinforce your support. We all need reminders that the people who love us are there for us. Teenagers are no exception. Every now and then, remind your child that you are a safe person they can turn to for conversations or guidance.

Supporting our children through the transition from childhood to adolescence involves creating an environment where they feel comfortable approaching us. Taking the initiative to adjust our own behavior will help build their trust in us as reliable confidantes.

The Changing Transition to Adulthood

Evolving our parenting role from managers to consultants requires letting go. It means granting our children more autonomy to be their authentic selves, even if it means relinquishing some of our control in the process.

This journey is no small feat, and wherever you are in this process, we applaud you. Together, let’s celebrate our children and provide them with the support they need as they navigate the changing transition to adulthood.

Love and Blessings, 

Katherine
Want to hear more? Watch my interview with Daily Flash TV where I discuss accepting your teen! Don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel so you don’t miss a thing.