Every
parent of teenagers has to deal with one uncomfortable truth: teenagers rebel
even when there’s really no good reason for them to. It’s a natural part of
growing up and chances are very likely that you rebelled at some point too. But
when is teenage rebellion something you should actively be watching out for?
There’s a clear difference between a teenager testing limits and getting
herself into danger. Here’s how you can identify the signs between normal
teenage behavior and something much more serious and how monitoring your
teenager’s iPhone can help you determine this.
When Rebellion is
Normal
Let’s face
it. Teenagers do weird things. A teenager might decide to dye his or her hair. They
may announce one morning that they’re a vegetarian or they would like to
convert to Paganism. These are all normal parts of growing up. Your teenager is
figuring out their identity and who they would like to be. Your child’s
teenaged years are a time for testing boundaries and questioning their place in
the world.
In general,
ask yourself a few questions when considering your child’s behavior. Are they
behaving in ways that are safe? Is whatever they’re doing legal? Are they happy
and otherwise healthy?
So long as
your child is not doing anything illegal, they’re not putting themselves in
harm’s way and they’re informed about their decisions, acting outside of the
norm is usually okay. Just be sure you’re keeping an eye on them. We suggest
installing monitoring software on your child’s iPhone, simply so you can make
sure they’re staying safe.
When to Watch Out
But
rebellion isn’t always safe or cute. Thousands of parents have had to deal with
the harsh reality of a drug using child. Your child might also be trying to
join a gang. Or they may be having unsafe, unprotected sex.
This is
when you need to take action. Hopefully you’re already using monitoring
software on your child’s phone. If not, install it promptly. The idea is that
you should be keeping an eye on your child, no matter what they’re doing. While
the software may have a price tag, protecting your child is priceless.
Be sure to
keep an eye on the messages they send to their friends and where they’re going
after school. Not all kids are crafty about hiding their behavior over texts
but it’s hard to cover up their physical location when their phone is giving
you the exact GPS location of their whereabouts at all times.
What to Do
When you
know your child is up to no good, it can be difficult to take action.
Have a talk
with your child. Don’t be afraid to ground them. Remove contraband like drugs
and weapons from their room. You may want to consider removing their door
depending on what’s going on. Get in touch with your child’s school counselor
and ask about potential resources. It may be helpful to enroll your child in
psychotherapy, especially if they’re acting out due to problems at home or
mental health issues.
Continue to
be a supportive, watchful parent. Remember, your child rebelling isn’t always a
reflection on you. It’s important to make sure that you’re still the parent
your children need at all times, without alienating them. It may be hard but
it’s not impossible to deal with a rebellious child.
Monitor what they do on their cell phone with a cell spy stealth software. It can be important for you to see exactly what you're teen is talking about and who they're talking to online. To many kids now get in trouble online for posting things they shouldn't, getting tagged in something unnecessary or communicating with an online predator. Spy software is an app to read text messages on another phone, as well as a GPS locator app, call log listings and more.
While your
child may not say it now, your child will thank you for the support years from
now. The worst thing you can do, after all, is to do nothing and simply stand
aside.
