Are teens still children? Or are they old enough?

Teenagers often hear one of two things. Either “You’re still a child!“ or “You should know better! You’re old enough to understand!“ So, what is the answer to this question? From my personal point of view? Neither, here’s why:

Teens are too old to be playing with toy cars and Barbies, yet too young to legally manage their finances and be fully independent from parents. But here’s the thing, many parents, including those who do it unintentionally, say either of those two things depending on the moment, sometimes not realizing it sends a mixed message

Let’s say that when teens want to enjoy their time being young, they might hear “Why are you goofing around? You should get a job!“ and sometimes compare them with a teen their age who seems more “productive”.

When a teen has their own opinions and views, and tries to talk about them, they might hear from parents, and even adults nearby “You’re too young to worry about it! You’re still a child!“

This leads to teenagers being confused, when they hear mixed messages about themselves, it becomes frustrating for the teen to determine if they’re too old or young

The truth is, teens are neither, they’re not children anymore, but also not ready to fully be independent from their parents. Most of the time, parents aren’t sending mixed messages with bad intentions, they do it with care

So next time a parent calls their teen a child or says they’re old enough, remember: it’s not meant to hurt or belittle. It’s said because they love them and want what’s best. And while this in-between stage can be messy, it’s also one of the most important parts of life