14 Days of Love Day 3: Should Parents Be Involved in Their Kids Relationships? (FACEOFF)

Yes: (N.A)

The classic saying that parents know their child best does not fade away as their child approaches adulthood. Teenagers tend to feel that their opinion is always correct, but although parents may have grown up in what seems like the prehistoric age, they know more than it may seem.

There is a fine line between protection and an invasion of privacy, and when it comes to relationships it’s easy for that line to blur. High school relationships should not be littered with the opinions of parents, but no matter how old a child is, their parent will always protect their own from a toxic relationship.

According to Love is Respect, one in three adolescents in the United States are victims of a physically, sexually, emotionally or verbally abusive relationship. Not all abusive relationships have bruises as an evidential sign for a relationship to end. There is no easy way out, and a push in the right direction from the ones who know them best will become beneficial in the future for a child who cannot escape a toxic relationship.

Only 33 percent of people in these situations tell others about the abuse they endure. Many people do not even realize they are in an abusive situation until they are out of it. If a parent pulls their child aside and addresses the concerns for their well-being, it can easily be seen as out of line, an invasion of privacy of a relationship that the parent is not a part of. And to the child blinded by harmful love, the last thing they want is for their mother or father’s opinion to damage what they see as a perfect relationship. But if a parent is acting with the intentions of destroying a relationship that would harm the person they raised, they have every right to do so.

Mistakes have to be made in order to grow and learn. But no one needs to experience toxic love, and parents often act as the distinguishing factor to eliminate that from their child’s life.

No: (S.D)

As one enters high school, they might dream about having the perfect high school experience and getting the perfect guy or girl. That is easier said than done. Finding one’s soulmate in high school feels like one in a million. When one does finds their perfect match, they might think no one would interfere with their love, however, that may not be the case.
Many young relationships have a third wheel, but in some cases it is not a friend, it is a parent. Too much involvement in their child’s relationship restricts the child from growing up and becoming independent. As high schoolers, especially seniors, enter the chapter of adulthood they need to have room to grow and make decisions for themselves. When parents get over-involved, they tend to share their opinions that cloud the child’s judgement. Children need to make mistakes because that is how they learn to make the right choices for themselves. Having parents constantly involved allows no room for them to grow and experience new things.

Rigid rules, another key issue when it comes to parents forcing themselves into their child’s relationship.Some parents expect their child to be with someone that has a certain religion or background. When parents begin to force relationships, it not only makes the child unhappy but it restricts the child from having a diverse relationship and learning about other cultures and traditions.

Parents should know who their child is dating. The parent should have a connection with their child’s significant other, but that does not mean that they should set guidelines of who their child can date let alone manipulate the relationship in any way. There should be boundaries kept between a parent and child regarding relationships.