Growing Pains: Parenting a Teen While They Outgrow You

Growing Pains: Parenting a Teen While They Outgrow You

Parenting a teenager is like watching a beautiful flower bloom-exciting, awe-inspiring, and bittersweet. My daughter is growing into an independent, strong young woman, and I couldn’t be prouder. But if I’m honest, that same independence sometimes leaves me feeling… alone.

This is my first time being a parent to a 16-year-old, just as it’s her first time being 16. We’re both figuring things out as we go, making mistakes, learning, and trying again. It’s messy. It’s emotional. And some days, it feels like we’re speaking entirely different languages.

But in the chaos of teenage emotions, occasional outbursts, and moments where I feel