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Teenagers

For many parents, the real difficulties of parenting begin as children enter their teenage years. In many families there are frequent clashes between the desire of the adults to retain control, keep their children safe, and insist on "acceptable" behaviour from their offspring, and the determination of the teenager to become independent, make his/her own decisions, and develop a lifestyle based on the peer group rather than the family.

Hormonal changes frequently exacerbate the complex minefield that must be negotiated by both sides, as issues such as smoking, homework, exams, drugs, friendships, going out, communication and the right to personal space arise and have to be faced.