What if You Just Don't Like Your Teenager?

"Starting about age 12, children start to become less aligned with their parents, which can cause them to be more argumentative. They begin to gravitate toward their friends and away from family. They may become defiant and start to question everything that's asked of them. It can be infuriating! Parents may be blindsided by these changes and not understand how their previously loving child has become rude, entitled, and defiant."

"At this point, the combination of parents' irritation and teens' defiance starts to fray the family connection. Teens want little to do with their parents, and parents may be fed up as well. Outside of what parents can do for their teenager, such as financial support and transportation, the teen strives for independence. This often leads to very hurt feelings on the side of the parents who don't understand what has changed with their child."

"When parents have just about had it with their kids, it's important to remember two things. One, they won't always be this difficult, and two, parents are still in charge. Teens try to rebel against their parents' authority."

During ages 12 and up, children often become less aligned with parents, leading to more arguing, questioning, and defiance. Teens may pull away from family and spend more time with friends, which can feel infuriating and hurtful to parents. As irritation and defiance build, family connection can fray, and teens may seek independence beyond financial support and transportation. Parents may feel blindsided by changes from a previously loving child into someone rude, entitled, and defiant. Parents can still remain in charge by remembering the difficulty is temporary and by setting expectations and boundaries for behavior while working through their own emotions to support their teenager.

Read at Psychology Today