Handle a teenager's need to be more responsible

One of the hardest things for many parents to deal with is their children’s demand for more freedoms as they grow into teenagers. After years of making most of a child’s decisions and putting their child’s needs first, parents find themselves confronting a young adult who wants the freedom to face more of the world on their own.

On some level, of course, parents recognize that their teenagers need increasing amounts of freedom and responsibility. It’s a natural part of the developmental process.

At the same time, parents realize there are very real reasons to go slowly in allowing more freedom...