Many parents believe the hardest phase of parenting is when children are infants. While it’s true that young children demand constant attention, the challenges don’t necessarily get easier as they grow older. Teenagers bring a whole new set of complexities, including independence and rebellion, which require just as much, if not more, attention. Here are nine real-life stories that highlight the difficulties and rewards of raising teenagers.

1. A Mother’s Honest Confession

“I have two grown daughters, but I’m ashamed to admit that I feel more love for one than the other. My older daughter has always been distant, even as a child. Despite our best efforts, she never really opened up to us. Now that she’s 18 and away at college, she rarely calls or visits, except on her grandmother’s birthday. My younger daughter, on the other hand, is affectionate and warm. While I do love both of my daughters, it’s been harder to connect with my eldest.”

2. Finding Peace Through Exercise

“I’ve always wanted to master pull-ups, but it wasn’t until I had a teenage daughter that I found the motivation. Parenting her isn’t easy, and when our conversations start to feel repetitive, I head to the pull-up bar we installed at home. I do a few reps, drink some water, and feel ready to engage again. Slowly but surely, I’ve managed to improve my pull-up routine—and my patience with my teen.”

3. A Surprising Bedtime Reminder

“My sister enforces strict rules about her son’s computer usage, ensuring he’s off by 11 p.m. One night, while babysitting, my nephew asked why I hadn’t reminded him about his bedtime. I told him, ‘You’re 12; you can manage it yourself.’ His response? ‘You don’t care about my eyesight, like Mom does!’ He then calmly went to bed, leaving me stunned by how mature he had become.”

4. A Wise Teenager on the Subway

“I once overheard a mother and her teenage daughter talking on the subway. The mom offered to buy her daughter a new phone after her old one got ruined at camp. When the girl asked for a Samsung like her friend’s, the mother insisted on an iPhone, saying it would fit in better at school. But the girl argued that a cheaper phone made more sense, as she didn’t want to risk it getting stolen, and suggested they use the money to help her grandmother with dental care instead. I was floored by the wisdom coming from such a young girl.”

5. Escaping to the Country

“We have two teenage kids who constantly bicker, so my husband and I escape to our country house on weekends. The internet there is spotty, so the kids usually stay home, and we get some much-needed peace and quiet. They don’t seem to mind—especially as long as the fridge is stocked and their Wi-Fi works. Meanwhile, we enjoy our stress-free evenings with snacks and movies.”

6. Letting Go and Watching Them Grow

“When my sons were growing up, I didn’t impose strict rules. Instead, I let them be responsible for their own decisions, which seemed to shorten their rebellious phases. Now in their mid-20s, they’re very practical and level-headed. One even declined a barbecue invite to clean his house, while the other spent his vacation installing flooring. Meanwhile, at 52, I’m still biking late into the night!”

7. A Parent’s Past Repeats Itself

“When my teenage son brought home a girlfriend with blue hair and a spider tattoo, my husband was uneasy. But I baked them a cake and gave them movie money. After they left, I showed my husband photos of me as a teen—green hair and multiple piercings. I’ve since grown