It doesn’t matter what kind of parent you are, your teens must hear certain things from you to develop self-confidence. Many parents believe their kids only need to hear certain things when they’re young and unaware, but teens need to hear their parents say specific things to them just as much as smaller kids. Parenting is one of the most rewarding things you’ll do in life, and there’s no real wrong way to do it provided your kids are healthy, happy, and cared-for with your love and attention. It’s still a nice idea to make sure you’re telling them a few things on a regular basis, though.

You Make Me Proud

You’re proud of your kids all the time, and they need to hear you verbalize that. Tell them you’re proud when they hit that home run during their big game. Tell them you’re proud of their work on their big project at school. Tell them you’re proud of them when they make the right choices when others aren’t doing the same. Your pride is not centered around the big things in their lives, but it is centered around the things that make you proud. They know you’re proud of the big things, but don’t forget to tell them how proud you are of the little things.

I Love You

You already know this, but don’t say it less often as they get older. End every phone call with an "I love you," which can help them have more self-esteem. Say it as your kids walk out the door of the house or as they get out of the car. Say it as you leave to go to work or run errands. There’s no such thing as saying I love you to your teens too often. Even if they roll their eyes and give you a hard time about it, they like to hear it and don’t want you to stop saying it to them.

I Trust You

Trust is big in a relationship with a teen. A good rule of thumb for parents to remember is trust is earned, but only when it’s been broken. To maintain a good relationship with your teen, give them your trust. Unless they do something to ruin that trust you have in them, don’t make them earn it. Assume they are good people who make good choices, and show them that you trust them. When you show them you trust them and tell them the same, you make them want to prove to you that they’re trustworthy. Trust is given until it’s broken, and only then must someone work to earn your trust back.

I’m Sorry

You’re the parent, but that doesn’t make you right all the time. You’re wrong sometimes, and there is nothing wrong with telling them you’re sorry. You should always apologize when you are mistaken no matter the age of your kids. Whether you’re apologizing because it’s such a beautiful and vital part of your from your recovery from addiction or you were wrong about the time an event started at school, just say sorry and mean it. It’s a beautiful thing to accept responsibility for your actions with no excuses and no “but’s” at the end of it. Your kids will respect you so much more when you apologize for being wrong.

Conclusion

Kids are the funniest people. They want every ounce of your attention for a few years, then they want almost nothing to do with you. They’re mad at you when you get involved in their lives, and then they’re mad at you when you don’t show them enough attention. They’re fickle, and it’s part of growing up. When you learn to embrace these sudden mood swings and personality changes your kids go through, it makes your relationship better. It’s not easy to parent, but it’s the most rewarding thing you can do in life.

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What Teens Need to Hear Most