http://www.girlshealth.gov/

Relationships

Home Relationships Parents, grandparents, and guardians

Parents, grandparents, and guardians

Kim has been fighting with her parents a lot lately. She thinks her parent’s rules are unfair. They tell her she needs to listen and follow their rules.

Your relationship with your parents/guardians may be confusing right now. As you get older, you can do more things on your own. You also have more freedom to spend time with other people, like friends or crushes. You may feel you are ready to choose where you go and what you do. But, you need to follow your parents'/guardians' rules. They make rules because they care about you and want you to be safe. Their rules may make you angry, though, and you may find that you’re fighting with your parents/guardians more than you used to.

Each family is unique and special. No matter what type of family you have, sometimes there will be tough times as you grow up. Keep in mind, your parents/guardians make rules because they love you and want to keep you safe. It's important to listen to your parents/guardians and follow their rules.

Learn more about talking to parents and other adults as a teen.

Sometimes families go through very tough times. Many teens struggle with problems such as divorce or a family member's illness. Check out the information below to help you deal.

Do you take care of someone in your family? It can be tough taking care of someone else. For tips on how to deal, check out our Young Caregivers section.

Having a tough time because your parents are getting divorced? Dealing with the changes that go along with divorce can be very tough, but it will get easier. For helpful tips, check out Dealing with Divorce and Separation: A Guide for Teens.

Do you have a parent/guardian or grandparent with an illness or disability? Learn more about how to handle this common issue in our Illness and disabilities section.

Content last updated September 3, 2008

top