Let’s take a moment to think back to our teenage years. I know, I know – it was a long time ago and maybe you can’t remember everything, but try to imagine the way you felt about your parents.

Maybe you had a great relationship with them, maybe you had a tough one or even a nonexistent relationship – but do your best to remember.

The reason I want you to do this is because if you are reading this, you are likely looking to learn more about your developing teen, and something that can really help us is to look at situations from their perspective.

When it comes to reminiscing about your teenage years, the best thing you can do is to remember what made you feel great and what made you feel less than. These extremes are typically what get ingrained in our memory. Thinking back to these scenarios will give you a fresh perspective on how to handle difficult situations with your teen – because remember, you used to have those same physical and emotional changes that challenged your relationships as well.

And while this is helpful, we do also want to keep in mind that things now are very different than they were when we were teens! Think technology and societal pressures conflicting and influencing our teens.

At the end of the day, the more we can relate to our teen, the smoother our conversations will go. There’s no need to throw in those “when I was your age” statements – simply use this exercise to bring yourself to a relatable state of mind. 

Having trouble connecting with your teen? Check out my Is this Normal?! infographic for some easy ways to respond to sometimes frustrating teen behaviors.