If you’re an adult or a parent dealing with a cursed teenager, there are some things you should bear in mind when dealing the their famous “bad attitude”.

It’s all psychological, really. Around the age of twelve, most children are still spunky, agreeable little rascals. However, usually in their thirteenth year, they become little monsters that seem to only focus on ruining their parent’s life. But in reality, these teenyboppers are having a hard time morphing into the individual they want to be. According to the German psychologist Erik Erikson, at the age of thirteen most children are faced with the Identity vs. Role-confusion stage of their development. This is a time when young teens are faced with influences by the media and peers as well as figuring out who or what they want to become. It’s an extremely stressful time for young teens to deal with, seeing how they are only thirteen after all. Then, around the age of fifteen, teens are faced with the Intimacy vs. Isolation stage. This is a stage where they must deal with puberty, popularity, relationships, and balancing a social life with their school work. Especially dealing with relationships, seeing how many teens feel that their first girlfriend/boyfriend is their first love. So when the time comes around when their partner decides to cut the cord on the relationship, it’s perfectly natural for your teen to go haywire. They become self conscience, wondering why their partner dumped them. Stressed from the break up which for some could cause acne or a bitter behavior, which is probably why they snap at their parents 90% of the time. Being “hot” or good looking in high school is a top priority for so many teens. So if they think they are unattractive, of course they are going to freak out. No one wants to hang out with the ugly kid. They wont concentrate on their school work, which h will stress them out even more getting that bad report card. It’s a vicious cycle for teens, really. So next time your young adult is giving you the old attitude, stop and think why they are acting this way. No, of course your child is not evil or malicious, out to ruin your life. This is their most vulnerable and most stressful time of their young lives, so take an easy on them, even if they are being brats. Times have changed since you were a teen, it’s not so laid back and groovy anymore. If you want to try to communicate with your teen, remember that more than 50% will decline to this offer. It’s just they way they are, bottled up to feel secure and safe. But don’t worry too much. Around seventeen or eighteen, near senior year, your teen will realize how important it is to just be themselves and to be happy doing what they want and not what others want them to do. Almost every single kid goes through this, so don’t feel your teen has problems or is depressed. Just say to yourself, “Ah, they’ll get over it”. Because you know what, they will.