Every stage of childhood presents its own unique challenges. You navigate through the sleepy newborn days, fumble through the infancy phase, skip joyfully through toddlerhood, dash around during early childhood, and finally arrive at the tween years, only to find yourself wishing for a break from the seemingly endless neediness because—surprise!—now you have teenagers.
“It’s so great,” everyone tells you. “They’re so independent! They sleep in! They can feed themselves! They do their own laundry! They even drive themselves to school and activities! Their personalities really shine!” Sounds like pure bliss, right?
Well, not for everyone, including me. I wish I could say that I am absolutely loving this unpredictable whirlwind I call adolescence (a.k.a. “hormones meet chaos, with zero filters”), but let’s be real—I’m not.
To say it’s challenging would be an understatement. For many moms, this phase arrives just when you thought you might catch a breather. Teenagers, as it turns out, still demand a lot of attention. Instead of enjoying the freedom you imagined, you may find the teen years to be a relentless headache that starts at age 13 and lasts until they move out. Those years you once looked forward to? You might just want them to end—now. They’re nothing like you anticipated, not even close.
And you know what? It’s completely fine if you’re not a fan of this stage of parenting. Just as some moms can’t stand the newborn phase while others embrace it, some moms connect beautifully with their teens, loving their ever-changing moods and personalities, while others, like myself, simply don’t.
For me, the teen years hit like a freight train, leaving me feeling as if I’d stumbled into a college house party—messy rooms everywhere. Young boys who used to sing sweetly to sleep now roam my home with deep voices and scruff that makes them look like grown men.
From what I hear from friends with teenage daughters, the transformation is just as drastic: one day, a sweet child; the next, a fierce queen ready to challenge everything. And guess who gets to navigate these changes? You.
Whether you have a son or a daughter, the teen years are no walk in the park, and if you’re reminiscing about the simpler times when a nap and a lollipop could fix most problems, I understand completely.
You’re not alone, other moms. Many of us find these years frustrating and barely manageable. It’s perfectly okay if the teenage phase isn’t your favorite. I assure you, even if you’re not enjoying it, you are still capable of raising decent teenagers—while sometimes feeling like you want to pull your hair out. Trust me on this.
I’ve made it through one teenager, am nearly finished with my second, and I’m confident I’ll survive the teenage years with my third and fourth, even if I don’t cherish every single moment (because I know I won’t).
I refuse to feel guilty about not wanting to cuddle the moody stranger who has taken over my son’s personality, or about feeling indifferent as he devours two pizzas in under a minute without a “thank you,” or about receiving nothing more than one-word answers from him for weeks. If there’s one lesson I’ve learned about raising teenagers, it’s not to take it personally. Your sweet child is still there, hiding beneath that mask of sarcasm. They will return to you.
My son came back a few weeks after he left for college. The kid who once declared he didn’t need a mom anymore transformed back into a boy who, while now a young adult, still needed his mom. I won’t lie; that makes all the teen angst worth it. In fact, it might just be one of the best feelings ever.
If you’re navigating the ups and downs of teenage life, know that you’re not alone. For more insights on parenting and home insemination, check out our posts on home insemination kit and learn about helpful supplements from Make a Mom. For a deeper understanding of pregnancy and home insemination, visit this excellent resource.
Summary
Parenting during the teen years can be tumultuous and frustrating. It’s normal for moms to feel overwhelmed and not particularly fond of this phase. Each child is unique, and while some moms find joy in their teenagers’ evolving personalities, others may struggle and long for the simpler days of childhood. However, it’s essential to understand that this stage will pass, and the bond will return.