Tips for teens who want to talk to their parents about a new relationship.

How to talk to your parents about your new relationship when you are a teen:

This blog post is geared towards teens who have supportive (non-abusive) parents.  If you believe that your parents are abusive, it would be a very good idea to talk to a therapist or trusted adult before following the guidance of this blog post.

The teenage years can be difficult in many different ways, not the least of which is that there is a tendency to start finding it more difficult to talk to your parents about your feelings. The reality is that it is natural for teenagers to start making the move towards independence and the belief that things can be achieved without needing to rely on your parents for support. It’s an in-between phase between childhood and adulthood that can be tough to manage without that help, though, which is why maintaining a solid relationship with your parents, one built on trust and respect, is so important.

One of the more difficult conversations that any teenager is ever going to have with their parents is when that first serious relationship rolls around. For many teens, the fear is that limitations will be put on the relationship, or that parents will make the move of deciding that a romantic relationship is not something that their child should be engaging in at that point in their life. The truth, though, is that you will never know what they think unless you get your relationship status out in the open.  This can be a very different situation for LGBTQI teens. If you are in the LGBTQI community, you may want to pause  reading this article and click here to read first (the link will also be at the bottom of this post).

While some parents will almost certainly react negatively to being told that their teenage son or daughter is in a relationship, most will absolutely admire your openness and honesty. Too many teens make the mistake of keeping important details, such as a relationship, from their parents, which quickly erodes the layer of trust that needs to exist within the family unit. When you do take the step to talk about your relationship to your parents, there are some definite things to keep in mind.

The first thing that you need to do when you engage in this type of conversation is to adopt a serious tone. If you are all giggly and nervous, it may well be perceived that you are still too immature to take part in this type of talk, which in turn might lead parents to believe that you are too young to be even thinking about a relationship. You also need to be prepared to answer questions, of which there may be many, as openly and candidly as possible. Being evasive is never a good idea, as it will look as though you have something to hide.

When having this conversation, do so at a time when both parents can be present and have time to listen. You all need to be on the same page here, so choose a time that suits everyone, yourself included. Be aware that your maturity and honesty may still be met with some skepticism, which is why you need to be prepared to introduce your partner to your parents. Meeting your new partner will go a long way towards making them feel more comfortable, and once again proving that you are ready to take another step towards adulthood.

LINK: https://longbeachtherapy.com/2015/12/02/coming-out-over-the-holidays-a-guide-to-telling-your-parents-you-are-gay-lesbian-bisexual-or-transgendered/