The transition from child to teen can be a very challenging time for parents, watching a child grow up and begin to pull away from the family unit, wanting to spend more and more time with peers. They wonder why their children don't want to spend as much time doing the 'family thing' with them. It's important to understand that, as children grow into teens, they begin to look toward their future; by pulling away from their families; they are simply searching for independence.

The teenage years are often when issues arise; parents continue to want to play a supportive role in their...