If you have a preteen or teen, you may have felt it already.

The shorter answers.
The closed bedroom door.
The sense that your child—who once told you everything—is now keeping you at arm’s length.

Or maybe it sounds more like this:

“Every time I bring it up, they shut down.”

For many parents, this shift feels personal. It can stir up fear, grief, or a quiet panic: Are we losing our connection? Did I do something wrong? What if they stop coming to me altogether?

Before you jump to worst-case conclusions, take a breath. Here’s the reassuring truth:

Your teen pulling away is not a sign of failure — it’s a sign of development.

Adolescence is designed to stretch the parent-child relationship, not break it. And while teens do need more space, they still need you — just in a different way.

The goal during these years isn’t constant closeness or control. It’s emotional availability without hovering, guidance without interrogation, and connection that feels safe rather than forced.

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