What To Do When You Don’t Like Who Your Teen Is Dating

What do you do when you don’t like who your teen is dating?  It is inevitable that this is going to happen at least once during their teenage or young adult years.  It is best to know how you should handle this situation before you have to deal with it so that you are prepared and get through it the easiest way possible.

There could be various reasons you don’t like who your teen is dating.  It could be their attitude, lack of manners, appearance or past reputation.  It doesn’t really matter what it is that sends up red flags for you, the way you handle it is the same.

The last thing you want to do when you don’t like who your teen is dating is overreact.  It will not help if you come across as opinionated and overbearing with what you say.  Chances are that it won’t help at all and will more than likely push your teenager to latch on to the person they are dating even more tightly simply because they feel your resistance.  You can give your opinion but do so very gently and only when asked.  Be sure to not attack their choice but just casually mention things you have observed.  Tell your child that it is their choice and you trust them at the end of the conversation.

Give them a fair chance.  Try not to hold anything you have heard against who your teen is dating.   Make up your own mind about them only after you have got to know them.  Be cordial to them.  Being rude to them will not be helpful and will only show your lack of maturity.

Remind yourself that more than likely, there are more boyfriends and girlfriends to come.  Hopefully, this one isn’t a permanent choice.

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