{"id":591,"date":"2022-06-21T11:25:24","date_gmt":"2022-06-21T11:25:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/breakthecycle.org\/why-parents-have-more-impact-their-teenager_s-relationships-and-sex-life-they-think\/"},"modified":"2024-04-13T21:57:57","modified_gmt":"2024-04-13T21:57:57","slug":"why-parents-have-more-impact-their-teenager_s-relationships-and-sex-life-they-think","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.breakthecycle.org\/blog\/why-parents-have-more-impact-their-teenager_s-relationships-and-sex-life-they-think\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Parents Have More of an Impact on Their Teenager\u2019s Relationships and Sex Life Than They Think"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Please note: Entries within this blog may contain references to instances of domestic abuse, dating abuse, sexual assault, abuse or harassment. At all times, Break the Cycle encourages readers to take whatever precautions necessary to protect themselves emotionally and psychologically.\u00a0 If you would like to speak with an advocate, please contact a 24\/7 peer advocate at\u00a0<\/span>866-331-9474<\/a>\u00a0 or text “loveis” to 22522.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Why Parents Have More of an Impact on Their Teenager\u2019s Relationships and Sex Life Than They Think<\/div>\n
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Today\u2019s Guest Blog comes from Rachel Dack<\/a>, a relationship expert for DatingAdvice.com. Dack is a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC), nationally certified counselor and relationship coach. She is also a co-author of “Sexy Secrets to a Juicy Love Life,” an international bestseller written to support single women in forming and maintaining healthy, loving relationships. This week, we focus on how parents can impact their teenager\u2019s relationships and sex life in a positive way.<\/em><\/p>\n

Many parents operate \u00a0under the belief that their teenagers do not listen to or value what they say. During particularly rebellious phases that occur during adolescence, many parents feel unheard and frustrated, and fail to realize that their teens are still looking to them as a guide and model for relationships. These common misconceptions, paired with the uncomfortable nature of topics, such as romantic relationships and sexuality, may lead parents to avoid important and necessary discussions altogether with their adolescents.<\/p>\n

Despite what your teenager has you believing and what they may not verbalize, your opinion does matter to your teen. Your level of support and involvement is essential to your teen\u2019s health and wellbeing. While your teen might have mastered treating you with an indifferent or disengaged attitude, your teenager does look to you for encouragement more than it might seem.<\/p>\n

The relationship between a parent and adolescent serves as a model for relationships. The quality and strength of the parent-child bond influences the quality of your teen\u2019s other relationships. Modeling and engaging in effective, honest and open communication helps your teenager utilize healthy communication in other relationships.If you wonder whether it is worth bringing up difficult subjects, such as sex, picture yourself as an important role model, valuable resource and confidant for your teen. You have a powerful influence over your teen\u2019s choices and behavior, and it is essential to use this position wisely.<\/p>\n

Romantic relationships in adolescence may be characterized as short-lived or overly dramatic, but these relationships play a substantial role in a teen\u2019s quality of life and mental health. It is common for parents and other adults to overlook or dismiss these relationships. However, parents should be attentive to their teens\u2019 needs, experiences and emotions.<\/p>\n

Even if romantic relationships seem trivial to \u00a0parents, they are actually appropriate during adolescence. It\u2019s healthy for adolescents to explore romance, intimacy and partnerships, as well as to develop a sense of self and autonomy. Romantic relationships can be complex for adolescents to navigate. Therefore, a strong parent-adolescent bond and appropriate modeling are essential.<\/p>\n

Kids and teens also have a natural curiosity about sex, which is healthy. However, your teen may fear being shamed, humiliated or getting in trouble, which can equate to secrets and barriers to communicating about sexuality and relationships. Conversations about sex might not come easily at first. It is important to talk early on to your kids about sex in age-appropriate ways to ensure that your teen has the right information about sex and the opportunity to ask questions to a trusted source. If the topic of sex is avoided between parent and child, the child will learn about sex from outside influences, which often results in inaccurate and unhelpful information. A lack of proper guidance about sex from parents may result in risky sexual behaviors and poor decision-making.<\/p>\n

Your own choices about sex and relationships serve as modeling and teaching for your teen. Regardless of your marital status, your teen will pick up on how you treat your partner or spouse, how sex is viewed, how you talk about ex-partners, how you handle being single or dating and who you welcome into your home. You have the opportunity to teach your teenager how to differentiate between healthy and unhealthy romantic relationships, including warning signs and red flags of unhealthy or abusive relationships. You may wonder how to bring up matters such as sex and relationships with your children and adolescents. It is normal to feel unsure about what to say and when. \u00a0Online resources can offer support.<\/p>\n

Lastly, a few tips on effective communication with your teen:<\/p>\n