When your teen feels old enough to date, you may find yourself in uncharted territory as a parent. If you think your child is ready to date, giving your permission and then observing your teen's relationships carefully is your responsibility as a parent.
Problems in teen relationships can range from incidents that are immature and dramatic to those that are serious and violent. Keep the lines of communication open so your teen feels comfortable talking to you about relationships.
Jealousy
Teens, especially those who are experiencing their first relationships, may not be able to recognize some of the feelings and emotions that result. Jealousy is common in teen relationships, as most teens are around various members of the opposite sex at school and extracurricular activities. Jealousy tainting a relationship can quickly turn into emotional abuse, isolation and even violence. Talk to your teen about ways to deal with jealousy, and how to foster a healthy relationship.
Infatuation
Some teens are ill-prepared for the intense feelings that accompany dating, which is why teens can find themselves infatuated. Through infatuation, you may notice your teen cutting off other friends and family members in favor of her boyfriend, obsessing over the relationship and becoming deeply depressed when they aren't together. A healthy relationship is one where your teen maintains her separate identity, notes KidsHealth.org, a division of the Nemours Foundation. Allowing the infatuation and obsession to progress can only cause problems when your teen and her boyfriend break up.
Intimacy
Your teen may feel pressured to become intimate in a relationship, even if he doesn't feel ready. The combination of peer pressure and the glamorization of sex and intimate relationships in the media tell him that teen sex is normal and even expected at times. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 46 percent of high school students have had sex, and 14 percent have had more than one partner. The expectation to become intimate, whether through intercourse, oral sex or another form of intimacy can pressure a teen who isn't physically or emotionally ready to engage in intimate behavior.
Violence
Teen dating violence comes in several forms. Physical violence, emotional violence and sexual violence can all plague your teen's relationship. One in four adolescents reports physical, emotional or sexual violence at the hand of a partner, according to the CDC. It can make for a confusing time for your teen if someone she loves and who supposedly loves her is hurting her. Talking to your teen about respectful relationships and signs of abuse can help her recognize the signs of abuse so she can leave the situation immediately.
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