Dealing With Your Child’s Broken Heart

We’ve all been there before with our kids. Once they grow up to an age where they start having innocent relationships, it’s common to see them become moody, argue with you and generally be difficult to deal with. Whether they’ve been dumped by their high school sweetheart, had their dreams of marriage crushed or they’re going through a strange relationship they’re still too young to understand, you need to position yourself as a mentor to help them deal with their emotional issues to better prepare and guide them in the future.

Do keep in mind that this advice is totally fine for parents who have “kids” that are well into their late teenage years or even young adult years. Just because they’re grown up, it doesn’t make them any less your child!

Don’t force your way into their issues
Sure, you want to do everything you can to help, but the most important thing is to keep your distance and listen. Don’t force your way into their issues by saying things like “they’ll come back to you” or “there are plenty of other opportunities in the future”. If they want to talk about it, let them talk. However, avoid taking sides. Don’t tell them that they’re at fault and don’t tell them that their ex-partner is at fault. Instead, just listen. Sit back, relax and listen to their issues. You can try to cheer them up with something like cooking their favorite meal or perhaps spending some time with them, but just try to keep their mind off it without being too invasive.

Show your support

Let your child know that you’re there for them. Speak to them over the phone, use social media if they prefer and leave encouraging messages. Let them know that you feel for what’s happened, but try to keep it at that. Don’t interfere with their life and don’t offer help when they don’t need it–just let them know that you’re ready to give them a hand if they want assistance. You need to let your child decide for themselves what their next move is without being an overbearing parent.

Look for advice from others

Let’s face it, this isn’t exactly an issue that every parent faces on a regular basis and what you can do to help will greatly depend on the help and experience you have. For instance, you might be a little out of touch with how young adults or teenagers meet up and how they chat, what the norm is for relationships at that age and how they even deal with breakups. There are plenty of guides out there that will help you learn more about modern relationships, so check out this review of Ex Factor guide as a good starting point. Identifying why a relationship went wrong and how to fix things is a great way to prepare yourself for when your child asks you for advice, and it’s a good idea to keep your knowledge up to date with these guides and advice from others.

Helping your child understand their emotions

Even when your child is in their late teens, it’s going to be hard for them to understand their emotions and truly embrace the way they feel. However, as much as they should listen to their emotions, they shouldn’t let it overtake their mind and overwhelm them. It’s important to teach your child about their emotions and explain them in a logical way. As their parent, you’ve probably been in or have seen similar situations to what your child is currently going through. Teens are usually faced with situations that make them feel uncomfortable or that they’re unfamiliar with, and it’s your job to help them understand these feelings and find an outlet to express them.

Some teens use music or writing to express their feelings and others use physical activity to relieve the stress in their mind. Some also cry as a way to let out their feelings. Just let your child know that it’s a perfectly acceptable thing to do when they’re feeling emotional. The way each child reacts to a breakup is different, but it’s important to always be there for them. Let them know that your support is always ready and waiting, but don’t be too overbearing with the advice you offer.