Does your teenager pay attention to red flags in teenage dating. The teenage years are hard enough, but throw dating into the mix and things become even more complicated. If you’ve ever dated as an adult, you can imagine how much trouble a teen might have. Dating teens not only have the regular dating issues we all have experienced, but they also have the addition of raging hormones and little life experience to help them navigate the waters of the new dating pool. As a parent, you must let them make their mistakes but it is also your job to keep them safe.
8 Red Flags in Teenage Dating
That is the reason that you should always keep these 8 red flags in teenage dating in mind when your teens begin dating.
Drastic Changes in Behavior
One of the first indicators that something is wrong in any relationship is often a drastic change in the behavior of the person being abused or mistreated. This can include secluding themselves more than normal, changes in sleeping patterns, changes in eating behaviors, or even a change in interest of activities they once loved.
Fighting Often
Fighting often is usually a strong signal that something has gone wrong somewhere. Usually, it means that one person is trying to run the other over with their opinions, expectations, or demands. It could also indicate a passive-aggressive environment in the relationship.
Controlling Behavior
Controlling behavior is often the next step in any abusive relationship. This one is often hard to see at first and may take you a while to confirm. Examples of this can be constantly on the phone with each other beyond what is normal for your teen, changing their clothing style, checking in with the other before going anywhere or doing anything, and so on.
Bruises or Other Unexplained Marks
Finally, the pinnacle of red flags in teenage dating that you will want to look for are bruises and other unexplained marks. Often your teen will not make it easy for you to notice these. Instead, they will often try to cover them by suddenly wearing long sleeves and such.
Your Gut Feeling
The truth is that you know your child better than anyone on this planet and as their mother or father, your gut will often let you know when something is wrong. While this is never enough to accuse someone, it is enough for you to start sitting up and paying attention. Use the gut feeling to open the lines of communication with your teen so they are not too terribly put out if you do need to step in.
It is important to remember that these situations in teenage dating can be incredibly dangerous. They are dangerous even when grown adults are involved, but for teens who often do not know how to control their emotions, it can be even more so. Most importantly do not get caught up in who the aggressor is in the relationship is, but focus on helping your teen get out of the abusive relationship. Both teen girls and teen boys can be just as abusive as the other. We tend to hear more about boys abusing women though since most males are often ashamed or embarrassed to admit it. Finally, it is always your job to do what you feel is best for your teen and to keep them as safe as possible; even if this means you must force an end to the relationship.
Don’t be afraid to reach out to the Domestic Violence Support Hotline if you or someone you know is trapped in an abusive relationship.
I’ve never experienced this but it would just break my heart to know one of my kids was in an abusive relationship and how hard it would to work it out with them.
This is so important for any parent to know. The teen years are so dangerous because kids don’t make good decisions at time thanks to their growing brains.
Yes, I always worry about this with my daughter. She’s so friendly and I worry she’s going to date someone controlling and be too polite to see it. So far, so good though!
Thankfully my boys are not dating. This is so important to know.
This is such an important topic! I hope that this post will help parents and guardians recognize the signs of a dangerous relationship.
I don’t have a teenager yet, but these are great points to remember to look out for in the future!
I need to take note of these. I’ve one teen so far but and will have another soon. Help!!!
This is such a really important topic to talk about with my teenager daughter. Thanks for sharing this with us!
Thank you so much for this informative post. My daughter has had crushes but is not really interested. She is really into her schooling and getting ready for nursing school.
These are important tips for parents and teens.
I am so nervous about that. My instinct wants to protect my kids any moment of their lives. I hope to be able to understand the signs that’s something is wrong!
This was one of my biggest fears when my kids were at the teenage dating age. I have seen a few of there friends in this situation and thankful it was taken care of.
It would break heart to know if my kids are in one…I tried to show them love all of the time they are with me so I hope they would know when someone isn’t loving them for real….
Thanks for this though, a lot needs to see this!