So, you thought that once you navigated through the sleepless nights, potty training, and those eerie childhood fears, your evenings would transform into a peaceful paradise of uninterrupted sleep? Think again! If you have teenagers, welcome to the world of sleepless nights—Teen Edition.
As your teens embark on their social adventures, their outings often coincide with the time when us early-to-bed, overworked parents are ready to call it a night. And during vacation? Forget about it! Those school night curfews vanish, turning days into nights and leaving parents with a restless sleep as they contend with the sounds of slamming doors, refrigerator raids, and late-night phone notifications.
So, what type of parent do you become when your teenager is out while you’re trying to get some shut-eye?
Stalker Parents
Stalker Parents have that fancy app to keep tabs on their kids’ whereabouts. They may feel a false sense of control, convincing themselves they’ll sleep soundly while they check the app obsessively until their teen is home. When their child finally arrives, they feign sleep, trying to appear nonchalant. But beware, that day will come when your teen figures out how to disable that tracking app.
Bad Cop Parents
Bad Cop Parents take a strict stance against the late-night teenage social scene. With a firm curfew in place—“This is the law in our house!”—they wait by the door with a stopwatch, ready to enforce the rules. However, this approach often leads to rebellious teens and a need for strict consequences.
Mother Duck Parents
Mother Duck Parents can’t rest until all their little ducklings are back in the nest. They might doze off in front of the TV, only to wake up at the sound of the key in the lock. A sigh of relief follows as they stumble off to bed for a few fleeting hours of sleep. While they may deal with a few advantage-taking teens, they accept it with a heavy sigh.
Laissez-Faire Parents
Laissez-Faire Parents take a more relaxed approach, trusting their teens to make good choices. They head to bed, only finding out their teen made it home safely the next morning after a solid night’s sleep. This carefree parenting style sounds ideal, but it can be quite challenging to achieve.
Out of the Loop Parents
Out of the Loop Parents have lost touch with their teen’s whereabouts, leaving them anxious about who their child is with and when to expect them home. They find themselves pacing and sending texts into the void, only to be met with silence. When their teen finally returns, chaos often ensues, perpetuating a cycle of mistrust.
Tired As Hell Parents
Tired As Hell Parents may know the who, where, and when of their teen’s outings but still struggle to sleep. They worry about what could happen and often find themselves waking up to the sound of the key turning in the lock, only to fall back into a restless sleep.
So, how much sleep did you get last night? Join the club!
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Summary
Parenting teens often comes with sleepless nights filled with worry about their safety and social outings. Whether you identify as a Stalker Parent, Bad Cop, or something in between, navigating this stage of parenting can be challenging. Finding a balance between trust and concern is key to surviving these teenage years.