Parents live in the world of work, responsibility, managing and controlling while teenagers are living in the world of hormones, pimples, acne, crushes and school. These worlds are wide apart and so are their communication styles. 

Hustling and living this way for so long, life becomes a certain way for parents, but these teens are looking at life in a whole new way. They are carefree compared to the adults in their life, they have new lenses not yet tainted by the world. They think differently and their life choices are unique.

Many parents find it hard to understand this life state, even though they have been through this yet they fail to comprehend because it’s been too long for them. These teens are growing up in an entire new age with apps, gadgets, and  AI. Life is completely different from when and how their parents grew up in many ways. 

Hence, communication, too becomes challenging for both of them. A teen’s world view doesn’t even comprehend what the parent worries or stresses about. And, it holds true for the parents as well. And then when it comes to communicating with each other, majority of times, the teen feels unseen and unheard by these parents.

1. Not taking things personally- This can be your favourite tool, at this age, teens are going through things they might not be able to express especially with you.

2. Staying neutral - Rather than trying to put them in place, hearing them out and communicating with empathy and understanding will go a long way.

3. Check the Tone, Not Just the Words- Teens are hypersensitive to tones such as sarcasm or dismissiveness hurts more than the actual content. Calm,and  open tone = open ears.

This is a tricky subject, while parents want their teens to be financially responsible, this subject feels difficult. Saving, investing and managing money are crucial for teenager to know so that they don’t have to learn financial lessons in life. Financial skills can be learned and can be best taught by parents. However, this also feels like the most difficult conversation to have without converting into an argument or a fight.

A) Ask them financial questions - Ask them, what would they do with Rs.5,000, if given today to you. Listen to them without interruption or giving them advice. This makes them feel seen and heard.

B) Tell them what you would have done - Say, I would spend 20% while saving 30% of the money. Without ordering or commanding what could be done with the money, rather guides them gently in a good direction.

At its core, the friction between parents and teens is rarely about the issue itself whether it’s money, freedom, or choices. It’s about how each side feels seen, heard, and respected. When parents shift from controlling to conversing, and when teens feel safe enough to express without fear of judgment, communication stops being a battlefield and becomes a bridge.

Families don’t need to erase differences to stay connected; they need to learn how to walk through them together. After all, the goal isn’t to win arguments, it’s to nurture understanding, trust, and a relationship that lasts beyond the teenage years.