2 hours to the scheduled time of the party, she had a long warm bath and took time with the ritual of her makeup and dressing. Her dad was meant to drop her off at her friend’s house and she did not want to keep him waiting for too long. As she walked out of her room to the sitting room, she could not help smiling at the image of herself she saw on the mirror. She was certain she will make a statement with her dress. You’re wearing that?’’ Her dad blurts out as soon as she walks into the sitting room. Yes dad, she replied, you like it? Like what?’’ her dad retorted, almost repulsed at the thought of ever liking such an ‘’outrageous outfit’’. You can’t go out in that. Why not? Sheba whines. This is what all the other girls are wearing; I want to make…

As parents, we find often find ourselves in a situation where we have to put our feet down and completely disagree with our teenage wards. It could be due to their late-night habits, rude retorts or simply avoiding daily chores. Have you ever wondered what your teenage daughter would choose if she was presented with the options to stay with you, or be emancipated? Ariel Winter, an American actress and voice actress, popularly known for her role as Alex Dunphy in the comedy series Modern Family, earned her legal right to emancipation at 17, in 2015. As stories of her emancipation due to a complicated and somewhat strained relationship with her mother swarmed the media, it was sure to give mothers a great cause for concern. Teenagers had a new weapon, they could threaten to file for emancipation and get away with mischief; Many parents wondered if they were getting…

Trust is an important part of any relationship. It represents your belief in someone’s good sense, ability or honesty. As your daughter gets older and starts becoming more independent, it can be difficult to find the balance between a teenager’s need for independence and privacy, and your need to know what’s happening to keep them safe. Find out how you can stay involved in your child’s life through building a trusting relationship. Here are some tips from parents reach.com, that could help parents understand why building trust is so important; work on how to avoid your child breaking your trust; and learn how to develop mutual trust with her. Why is building trust with your teenager important? Your child needs your trust to help them in their transition through to adulthood. However, this trust needs to be mutual. You and your child need to meet in the middle and develop…