PressTV – Islam and Life: How to Deal With Teenagers Today

As a non-Muslim parent, and someone who respects Islam and is studying Islam, I believe that we have to strike a balance: the balance of letting them know who we are and our values and our expectations of them with respect of them. I don’t agree with the term “deal” in the first place because it connotes that they are a headache and not real people experiencing their reality – meaning the environment in which they live. No matter our faith or non-faith, we as parents tend to cast them into an “other” category, something foreign. But what they are questioning and rebelling against is natural, and should be respected. They need to feel “heard” and that we are respecting where they are. I am happy to hear you say Tariq that we need to stop talking to them as if they are children. That we need to talk to them towards their heart. We need to let them know that we are here to listen, respect, and at the same time guide. Yes, no more pretending! Talk to them! Salaam and with great respect, Brooke