13-year olds can be challenging, we aren’t going to lie! However, for all the negative things there are loads of positive things to look forward to too.

13 is a time when your child finds their independence and begins to question your parenting skills... which is lots of fun (or not)!

Here are some of the good and bad things about parenting 13-year-old teenagers.

Change of direction – 13 years old heralds the beginning of a new phase in your child’s life and one that will be challenging not only for you but for them. You will find your teenager will not take too kindly to your rules about bedtime or dinner time. They will assume with their new age they can be trusted to make their own decisions fully. This may cause some stressful situations between you and your teen.

Puberty – No matter how easy your teen takes puberty it is always a little stressful for you both as you settle into life with puberty. If you have a daughter you can expect periods, skin and hair changes as well as the beginning of pubic hair. Wider hips and breasts are another change in your teen’s life. For the young lads, they will grow facial and pubic hair while their tone of voice will alter too.

Independence – Independence can be a good and a bad thing depending on your teen’s personality. Some teens will try and stretch the limits while others will be respectful of the rules and enjoy their freedom without taking advantage. You will find you will have more free time to yourself as teens generally like to spend time with their friends or in their room watching Netflix.

Conversation – A high point of having a 13-year-old is that when they are in good form, they are good conversationalists. They will be happy to pass on their opinions and you will begin to understand their personality traits and characteristics that make them unique. It is most enjoyable chatting to your teen as they find the world around them and try to figure it out.

Pride – Your child will always make you proud but as your child turns 13 and begins secondary school there is a sense of aspirations for the future. How your teen will progress through life and who they will become as well as what career path they may take in a few years’ time. It is a time when school tests will become the norm as well as more extra-curricular activities that will make you proud to be their parent.

There is no minding on them! – Once your child turns 13 it will be easy enough to find a babysitter to care for them as there is literally no minding on them! Your teen is happy to sit and relax with a tub of popcorn watching movies. This inevitably makes your life easier as a parent though it becomes harder in other ways. You will worry when your teen is out of the house and your fears change but ultimately, a 13-year-old is beginning to find their feet and it is great to watch what lies ahead.

Emma Hayes is a thirty-something mum of two girls aged 16 and 10, planting her right into the teenage and tween-age years! Follow her on Twitter at @EmmaHayes25.