Typical teenagers

To the editor of Parents Magazine. I’ve got this assignment to write about typical teenagers. How it is to be a teenager with non-understanding parents and the relationship between adults and teenagers. I’m gonna start out with the typical relationship between an adult and a teenager. There are two kind of point of view - the teenagers and the adults. If you’re for example the teenager you’ll think, that your parents just don’t get you, and can’t see why they don’t see you like an adult in some ways, and some ways they do. But if you’re an adult you’ll think you’re doing some things for their own good, and some things to make them more responsible for their actions. My relationship to my parents isn’t the best to be honest. I just really feel like i’m in my teenager-phase, where I feel like they don’t understand me at all and nothing makes sense - besides my friends. And I think it’s really sad, because if we don’t give them an insight into our lives, how should they know then? Personally I can see how much my relationship to my parents have changed. When I was a kid, I saw them as “heroes” and my safe place - not that they still aren’t, but I just don’t show them that, like back then. For example when i was a kid I loved to sleep with my parents and give them hugs and kisses, but now I feel like I don’t have the time or sometimes I just get irritated, and I know it sounds silly and dumb, but it’s just how I feel. The way I think a good relationship between parents and teenagers can be achieved is being more understanding. Giving more insights. Talk about it. Give each other space. I know it is easier said than done, but you can always take baby steps and start day by day. And not so much US and THEM. I don’t think that everything should change, because there will always be a difference between adults and teenagers. Like yeah, we can be more understanding, but still have our own opinion and experiences. Yours faithfully, Anita