Parent-teenager friction is a rite of passage that everyone experiences at some point. Not only is it common, but according to several experts who spoke with HuffPost, it’s also developmentally appropriate.
As they emerge from childhood, teens push boundaries while simultaneously exploring their newfound freedom. At the same time, parents are desperately trying to ensure not only their kids’ safety, but their success as independent adults.
“At the heart of almost every argument between parents and teens is autonomy and agency,” licensed marriage and family therapist Saba Harouni Lurie, the owner and founder of Take Root Therapy, told HuffPost. “Teens are trying to figure out who they are, and that process naturally involves pushing for more independence.”
Parents, on the other hand, “are focused on protection and long-term safety of their kids,” licensed marriage and family therapist Cristina Pasini Billingsley
English (US)