Re: The Teenager's Mantra

Agreed. I am reminded of something I read years ago, I think at IPCE, which demonstrated that children who had a relationship with a pedophile were more likely to have a good relationship with their parents.

I think this is why - a third party who can commiserate with their problems, and occasionally even give some insight into why their parents are making decisions that seem crazy to them (and maybe are), can go a long way towards a child (especially a teen) maintaining a good relationship with their parents.

E.g., something as simple as saying, "Yes, I think that is over the top, but you realize that your mother is only doing that because she's concerned about you and wants to protect you," can make a huge difference to a child. Misguided protection chafes, but it's a hell of a lot better than feeling like a slave.