Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
When conversing with adults I often find that they underestimate their children and youth in general, in fact, more often youth are seen as incapable which in turn makes me wonder if they have forgotten what being young is like.
Being excited about travelling alone for the first time, going out with friends on the weekend and the pain of teenage heartbreak should bring back some good memories. Having said that, the first and most common thing that parents undervalue are their children’s relationships.
As children grow up and transition into young adults they develop emotions and an individual understanding that is separate and, at most times, different to that of their parents. These emotions help to mould their understanding of what a good relationship is - whether it be with their family or friends.
Each bond requires different things in order to make it work. Stability, for example, is one of these things and ranks in the top ten ways to make your relationship fruitful.
Being young is often taken to mean that one still has a lot to see in life, a lot of people to meet therefore, losing friends isn’t a big deal because one can always make more. At least that’s the common misconception.
There are, however, some tears shed and bitter feelings even at the end of young relationships. People change, betray you and more than anything they don’t always appreciate you.
While it’s true that ‘life goes on’ and ‘there are plenty of other fish in the sea’, it’s okay to be disappointed but more importantly, it’s okay not to settle for less.
Being young doesn’t mean being emotionally incapable, in fact, it marks the beginning of being emotionally experienced. Teenagers, as their parents before them, will go through a whirlpool of different emotions and, hopefully, they will not be passed off as ‘childish’.
As C S Lewis once said: “Someday you will be old enough to read fairytales again.”
