We all know how teenagers are- they like to spend time with their friends and gadgets rather than hanging out with their parents. And that’s not healthy.
Teenage is that time of life when kids have a lot of questions about puberty, friends, school, and literally everything that’s going around in their life. It is better that they get all the answers from their parents rather than googling stuff on the internet.
And let’s not forget the part that mothers always have a soft spot for their kids. You can leverage that soft spot to foster a better relationship with your older kids.
Having said that, If you feel that your teens are drifting apart from you emotionally, it is time to do something about it.
But there’s a catch!
You should know that all your teenage kids want is someone who can understand them by giving them space. So, step one that can help you build a stronger bond is to stop hovering around your kids.
Being said, here are some tips that can help you strengthen your bond with your teenage kids.
- It’ all about listening to what they have to say
As parents, you might want to impose some things on your children’s life. You might feel that it is the right thing to do, but it can ruin your relationship with your kids in the long run. According to psychologists, older or teenage kids turn into rebels when they feel ganged up in front of their parents and teacher.
Suppose your kids want to go to a concert on a school night, and you don’t want them to mess up their schedule. In that case, denying their request right away might not be the right thing to do. You need to ask your kids why they want to go to a concert. Is it their love and passion for music, or they just want to have fun.
The key to fostering a better relationship with your teenage kids is to meet them at a common ground. Instead of being strict and controlling parents go for being someone with whom your kids feel comfortable and safe to share their problems and confusions.
And remember, you need not have all the answers every time; sometimes, just listening to them calmly can do wonders for your relationship.
- Do something fun and exciting together.
Believe it or not but the best relationships are built over laughter and games. Maybe that’s why your teens feel closer to their friends than you. But that has to change now. It’s time to transform yourself from a boring to fun mommy.
For this, you need to ask your kids what they would like to do on the weekends. Remember, you need to do the deed nonchalantly as you don’t want to seem like a pushy and desperate mom. You can also consider showing some interest in their hobbies. For instance, dance your hearts out or listen to the same music (even if you don’t like it.)
Also, if your teenage children are crazy about Instagram reels and tick-tock videos, you can always volunteer to shoot funny or other viral mom-related videos. You can also take it up a notch by wearing a cool, trendy, and personalized tee shirt for your teenage kids. Request them to wear the same and shoot some crazy videos together. You’ll be surprised to know that the procedure of making those fun videos and twinning with your child was much better and more fun than the end result.
The whole idea of doing something fun and exciting together is to bring you all together so that your children can see you more like a friend than a parent.
- Have a “no electronics day” policy on the weekends
Undoubtedly, gadgets and the internet have overcome in bridging the geographical gap. You can actually talk to a friend in Australia while sitting in your home in America. That’s pretty cool, but it won’t be wrong to say that the same gadgets and the internet have contributed to escalating the emotional and physical gap with the one sitting next to you.
As mentioned earlier, gen Z is obsessed with gadgets and stuff to the extent that they stop prioritizing their health over them. So, you can change that by having a no electronics day policy on the weekends. But you need to know that making them give up their electronics and turning off the wi-fi isn’t the only thing you need to do. You have to show your teenage kids what life is without electronics by swapping their gadgets for something more fun.
For instance, you can go for a family picnic, a hike, or organize a mini barbeque in your backyard for your kids and their friends. Or you can consider going on a shopping spree and pretend to be each other’s fashion stylists. You can even have a twinning day by wearing your personalized t-shirts and consider taking some fun photo booth pictures with each other.
- Go for a walk or a drive together.
There are times when mothers might feel a bit left out from their children’s life. One of the prominent reasons this is happening could be not finding time for each other. Your kids are busy with their school drama while you are caught up in your professional life. You should know that this negligence might have some adverse effect on your relationship with your teenage kids.
But the good news is that you can always change that by going on a drive or a walk together with your teens. Believe it or not, but having some alone time with your kids can end up giving you some quality insights into their life.
Try to take them into confidence by being their friend and not a parent they have at home. Assure them that whatever you both talk about is going to stay between you two only. You can also consider sharing your problems with your teenage kids to create a sense of relatability. This way, your kids will also try to open up their hearts for you and share whatever is going on in their life. Again, listening plays a crucial role here.
Wrapping Up
Fostering healthy relationships with teenagers can be challenging but is definitely possible with an adequate approach. So, use the tips mentioned above and strengthen your bond by hanging out with your older kids.
