Parents often say the teenage years are the hardest. But my kids are in high school, and I love this phase.

"Ever since my oldest kid was born, I've been warned about the teenage years. When I talked to people about my kids, some of them seemed to relish warning me about the upcoming teen years. If one of the kids got a little sassy, people would remark, 'Just wait 'til they're teenagers!' I'd get the same response if a kid were throwing a tantrum or doing pretty much anything negative."

"When I read about older kids and teens, since I was going to have some soon, I was warned about vaping, sexting, and the negative effects of social media. I read that I should restrict their phones. When they were actually on their phones, I needed to know everything they were doing. Yes, all of those risks are real and the advice is important, but they're not the whole story."

"The one thing missing from all the parenting advice on raising teens is any indication of how fun it is. Now that my teens are almost adults, they're finally working with the reasoning skills of almost-adults. That means I can take a back seat to a lot of their decision-making. That's a relief for me. They're also coming into their personalities. My teens are developing a funny sense of humor as they get older."

People often warn about the teenage years, emphasizing risks like vaping, sexting, and social media harms. These risks are real and require attention, such as phone restrictions and supervision. Teenagers also bring considerable positives as they mature: improved reasoning allows parents to step back from many decisions, reducing parental stress. Teens increasingly show distinct personalities, humor, opinions, and deepening passions for music, art, and sports. Observing more sophisticated games, performances, and conversations becomes enjoyable. Overall, the teenage phase combines important safety concerns with rewarding developmental milestones and growing adult-like interactions.

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