the parent child relationship, by KN
This article was written for yooou! by 13-year-old, KN.
The relationship between a parent and their child is perhaps one of the most defining aspects of the child’s life. This relationship lays the overall foundation for a child’s social growth, mental wellness, and prosperity.
As kids begin to grow up, they undergo many changes both intrinsically and extrinsically. It can be difficult to maintain a healthy relationship with parents, due to numerous factors. Let’s break a couple of these down and take a look at why you should always be grateful and understanding of your loved ones:
pushing to be the best version of yourself
It’s not easy to convince a stubborn kid to do their homework, clean their room, take responsibility for a certain action, etc. During our teenage years, our brain is overwhelmed with all the changes going on; environmental changes, social changes, educational changes, and more.
It’s perfectly normal to feel deluged, uneasy, or simply lacking motivation. When your parents push you towards doing something you may not want to do (such as homework, dishes, sports, etc.), they have no ill intent. They simply want you to be the absolute best version of yourself.
spending time with them
Spending time with loved ones is a treasure and should not be taken for granted. A lot of us often fail to realize just how much our parents do for us, even if it doesn’t seem that way. Telling your parents just a simple “thank you” can go a long way.
According to a study done by CNBC in 2019, a majority of interviewed 90 year-olds said their biggest regret in life had nothing to do with career failures or missed opportunities. Rather, their remorse came from not spending enough time with loved ones.
prioritizing the development of healthy relationships
Priorities aren’t uniform and differ for everybody. I surveyed a handful of my classmates (ages 13-14) and found that approximately 73.5 of them prioritize things such as school, sports, and extracurricular activities. The other 26.5 was a mix of friends, family, and even one said getting famous.
Although cultivating healthy relationships doesn’t have to be your #1 focus, it should definitely be in the top 5s. Your relationships with loved ones have a huge impact on your later life.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article and learn about just a smattering of reasons why you should always treat parents and loved ones with appreciation and understanding. Check out my bio below to learn a little bit about who I am and what I do!
