comes a quiet recovery but leaves many changes. Children have changes in their bodies, erratic emotions, easily angry, closed down or resist. Many parents are confused, worried, even helpless when seeing their children not the same as before. In fact, what I need most at this stage is not to control more closely, but to be close and understanding enough to accompany.
Understanding how not to turn depression into a family battlefield
According to Dr. Laurence Steinberg, developmental psychology expert, professor at Temple University (USA), adolescence is the period when the young brain develops strongly emotionally but the ability to control behavior is not perfect. That explains why children are quick-witted, sensitive, and react strongly to things that parents think are small, Steinberg analyzed.
The problem is that many parents still treat their children as young children, imposing orders, while their children desire to be respected as an individual when they grow up. This phase difference can easily put the family under prolonged stress. Instead of asking around, scolding or comparing, parents need to learn to listen and accept their children's feelings, even when they do not agree with their behavior.
Understanding that their child is growing up in confusion helps parents be less angry and their child be less lonely. That is the first step to keeping the connection in the family.
How to accompany your child so that he does not walk alone?
Accompanying does not mean being relaxed. Parents still need to set limits, but there are limits with explanation and dialogue. Dr. Lisa Damour, a junior psychologist, author and educational consultant at the Child Mind Institute (USA), said: Youth needs both warmth and clear limits. One of the two shortcomings causes children to lose direction".
Parents should proactively talk to their children about physical changes, emotions, gender, friendship and even failures. Avoidance only makes children find answers elsewhere, sometimes on social networks or inexperienced friends. More importantly, show your child that: even though you are wrong, you are still loved and listened to.
An often overlooked element is setting an example. The way parents control their emotions, resolve conflicts, and respect each other in the family is the strongest "life lesson" for their children at adolescence.
When I wake up, it will pass. But the way parents go with their children during this period will stay a long time, shaping trust, confidence and family relationships in the future. Don't let your child grow up silently. Step with you, slowly, but close enough.
