Teenage years are hard, but they are even harder when your parents don’t understand.

Being a parent means making decisions your children won’t understand and sometimes you won’t even understand. However, in the end it’s what’s best for you and your family.

When your teenager comes home upset or aggravated, don’t start assuming that they are lying.

School is tough — a lot tougher than it was in the 1900s.

Some things are the same: you have to carry textbooks, you have four core classes who could all possibly give homework in the same night and you have a reputation to uphold. But trust me, it’s still different.

Probably one of the biggest changes in a teenagers life is how people treat relationships.

In our society today, many people have accepted cheating.

It is so easy in today’s time because of social media.

We have so many apps we can use such as Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram and Twitter.

On Snapchat, you can send a snap to a person and no one will ever know about it and that could be an easy way for people to cheat.

You can direct message someone on Twitter. No, it doesn’t go away like snapchat does, but there is always a delete option.

In my parents generation, they didn’t have social media to cheat. They called each other or met up and hung out.

They were forced to communicate face to face unlike today where teenagers hide behind a screen.

As a parent, you should always be there for your children, even through their heartbreaks.

Of course you want the best for your child, but sometimes telling them how they went wrong isn’t always best. Telling them they deserve better isn’t what they need to hear right then. They’re going through a tough time; they’ll realize what they deserve eventually.

Be there for them, hold them and even just listen to them.

I know if I were a parent I would never want my child crying him/herself asleep at night questioning if they are good enough.

In the society we live in today, freedom is key.

My parents are ones who aren’t strict but also don’t let me do whatever. However, I think that doesn’t help a teenager grow up.

The more strict you are on your children, the more likely they are to rebel and according to my parents, they don’t want that for me.

For a teenager to grow up, I believe you have to make mistakes whether it’s a big mistake or a small mistake.

When I become a parent, I won’t let my children do whatever they please, but I will let them do more than my parents did, just so they will grow up and learn from their mistakes.

I know you don’t want your little babies to grow up, but sadly they do.

Don’t be so overprotective over your children. They will distance themselves and you will grow apart.

Let your children be with their friends. If they wanna stay with them for a few nights, let them. They’ll miss home more than you think.

You want your children to enjoy being with you, but you have to make it enjoyable.

You might start to wonder if your kids care, well trust me when I say this. They care.

They care way more than you could ever imagine and they appreciate everything that is done for them.