Relationships Ireland

Supporting Your Teenager

Managing your separation and parenting your teenager

Managing your separation and being a parent to your teenager can be a difficult process. This is a stressful time for the family and the way you handle this with your teenager will affect how they cope in the future.

Here are some things that teenagers find helpful and other things that they find hurtful.

How separation affects you and your teenager differently

It is important for you to be aware that your needs can be very different to the needs of your teenagers, particularly when you first separate. The problem is that you, as a parent, often assume that your needs are the same as your teenagers, while they assume that you need the same things that they need. Take a look at the differences in how separation affects you and your teenagers.

Finding help for your teenager

If you feel your teenager needs some extra support in coping with the changes that have arisen due to the separation then there are a number of options available to you.

Supporting yourself

While it is important to look after your teenager’s wellbeing during this stressful time, it is also equally important to make sure you are taking proper care of yourself and your own needs during and after the separation.