It’s parents’ job to protect their children from the world, but there are some things that are out of their control.

Teenage relationships are one of those things. Trying to be too involved in a teen’s relationship when they don’t want you to be can only make them push farther away.

Teenagers are at an age where they are trying to gain their independence, and when parents don’t give them the freedom to do that, it usually results in the teen acting out or taking their independence into their own hands in different ways, such as sneaking out at night.

When it comes to a teenage relationship, parents should have a role and a say in what happens, but they should also give their child the freedom and responsibility to be able to experience a real relationship.

Parents should respect boundaries and realize that the teen might not want to tell their parents everything that’s happening, and that’s okay as long as they aren’t hiding anything important or dangerous.

However when a teen comes and wants to talk about the relationship, it should be a time for the teen to talk and parents to listen; it should never turn into an argument or lecture because that will only push the child away from trying to have any further conversations involving that subject.

When a child is going out, make it clear that there are expectations that should be followed, but also give them the freedom to have fun and enjoy themselves.

Parents should understand that as their child grows up, they are going to have to loosen the leash a little and trust that their child knows what they are doing and can take care of themselves, at least for the night.

Respect goes both ways: If parents expect their children to respect them, they should in turn respect their child. Parents should not belittle their teen or treat them like they can’t have an adult discussion about something. A teenager should be able to feel as though they can have an adult conversation with their parents without the feeling that they are being talked to like they are a child.

Parents should have a reliable role in their teens relationship but still be able to respect boundaries and let their child have their own relationship and their own life.