Working Parents, Here’s What Your Teen Wants from You

It’s actually more reasonable than you thought. (By Honor Code Intern, Jack Tuttle)

It’s actually more reasonable than you thought. (By Honor Code Intern, Jack Tuttle)

Ed. note: If you’re a parent who works outside the home, you’re probably walking around with some guilt about the time you’re spending away from your teen who’s navigating adolescence. Is that guilt warranted? And is there anything you can do to improve their quality of life while you’re away? We asked our intern, age 16, for perspective.)

As a teen with a working parent, there are some things that make it bearable. Here are a few.

1. When my parents are gone, it’s nice that I have access to a food delivery service. When I’m home alone, it gives me many options for lunch and sometimes dinner. If this idea scares you, a parent could leave some cash for their kids so they can go out to lunch. This is just the first step in a long list of things teens appreciate.

2. Teens nowadays love themselves their music. As a parent, one small thing you can do is let them listen to what they want. Whether it’s at your abode or in the car, let them jam.

3. Going along with music is keeping the volume level down on your work. When in the car, one thing that really gets on teens’ nerves is when their parent is screaming into the phone. And I know you’re unwinding at night, but blaring TVs and unnecessary noise are also a no go.

4. Letting your teen sleep is very much appreciated. It’s likely that your teen will be staying up late during the summer months, so it’s good for the parents because they don’t have to deal with cranky teens.

5. Another thing I appreciate is knowing the plan. If you’re not working or you’re going to have a late night, it’s nice to know. I like being able to plan my own life around yours, and I can’t do that until I know what’s going on in your life. I know that sometimes it’s difficult for even you to know the schedule. As soon as you do, it’s greatly appreciated.

6. Something that isn’t really thought of is letting your kid know when you’re have a really good time at work and are succeeding. Your teen might not realize that they want to know this but it’s actually a really good thing to tell your teen. Let them share in your success.

7. The final thing on the list is to not bring home your bad attitude from something that went wrong at work. The worst thing for a teen is having a grumpy parent walking around the house with a short temper. It can be very annoying when we say almost anything and it is taken in a bad way. It makes us want to avoid the parent, which isn’t what you want.

Hopefully this list was helpful to you parents out there who also go to work. Take these tips and make your and your teens’ lives easier.