When Teens Fall in Love - Young Love First Love

Love is a very powerful emotion and there’s no denying your son or daughter will land smack dab in the middle of it one day. What you do and how your react may set the tone for all future relationships your son or daughter will experience. This also will greatly impact the relationship between you and your child.

Give Teens Space - Giving your young adult the freedom to experience their first love on their own terms allows your child to learn first hand creating teachable moments.  Letting them take charge and be responsible as this opens their eyes to the truth. Coming to the truth by way of their own experience guides them to consider love isn't always all it's cracked up to be.

 When your child comes home in love, stop, take a deep breath and remain quite. This is one of the most vital times to practice good listening skills. Admit that you've made a few mistakes in this department and that your confident they will handle it just fine.  Play dumb and let your child fill you in on the ways of todays modern love.

Young love often occurs unexpected and yet kids fall in love regardless of your level of preparedness. Despite what you think you know, never ever dispute the love and emotions of your child, teen or young adult. You’ve raised a loving and caring adolescent and now everything they've learned goes into practice with or without your support or involvement!

Why do this you ask?

Because your kid no doubt already thinks you've made some mistakes, they live with you after all. The last thing they want is to hear you preach on yet another topic as if an expert. This is a big moment in their life, so let it be just that, theirs!

Every person falling in love always feels as though their experience is different and unique.  You gain so much by letting them teach you about their exerience. This requires you keep your ideas, thoughts and opinions to yourself until your teen is done talking, let them get it all out.  

This better prepares them to explore the idea that love is an adventure, an exploration to learn more about others and how they may or may not fit into their lives.

Love is in fact a growing role which does not always include a death do us part act.  

Never push your son or daughter into a corner distracting them from their clarity in the relationship.

Being in love takes all the clarity any teen can muster, not to mention we adults as well.

This prompts your teen to be more receptive to change if and when it occurs.  

For example taking a break, breaking up or taking it slow.  Without your constant input and advice they take ownership and are less likely to do something stupid out of defiance over a silly power struggle with you!

If your child ask what you think about this person you would do good to say, “I don’t know them so it's not fair for me to say, I depend on you to tell me because I trust your judgment and value your opinion first”.  This may be the smartest move a parent can make as now your child proceeds to tell you about them.  As your son or daughter hears themselves describing this person they are faced with the reality of this person in their own words. 

 Explore Your Teens World With an Open Mind

Once your kid talks about this new found love be careful and remember to listen taking it all in. Be prepared if they come to you with hurt feelings or a broken heart.  

Teen relationships most often rebound after the first few fights, be careful, remember your supportive position.

Letting your child really know they are worthy of love by way of your love builds a greater expectation of other loves thus the standards by which they allow themselves to be treated.

One of the smartest gifts you can give your teen is a piece of jewelry symbolic of your bond, love, trust and faith in them.  

A bracelet is a great token of endearment and serves as a constant reminder of your undying faith and unconditional love, which at times keeps them on the straight and narrow.