Gathering any information or knowledge is always a good thing, be it religious or non-religious. I understand the dilemma that you are in right now. Irrespective of the faith that you follow, I want to tell you that the premise for all religions is to do good and learn good values, be hardworking and not hurt anyone. I want you to follow these first. As you grow up, you can decide where you feel more inclined. There is no pressure under which you need to follow anything specially now, so do not put yourself under that stress. I understand that you do not wish to hurt your parents, but it would be fair to hear what both of them want to say to you.

The post Both of them are trying to teach me their own religion appeared first on The Teenager Today.

I understand that you feel you have betrayed your mother, and that bothers you immensely. Most parents set rules and boundaries for their children. These include things that they feel are acceptable and those that aren’t. Since you have done something that you were restricted from doing, I understand that your mother must be immensely upset with you as it would be difficult for her to understand that it was the first time that you did this. Keeping all the above in mind, I suggest that you profusely apologise to her about your mistake and explain to her about your entire situation. I also feel that in case it was urgent for you to contact your friend, had you informed your parents prior to logging into Instagram, maybe they would have trusted you more. This is something I want you to remember for life — keep things simple, transparent and be honest.

The post I have started to feel like I betrayed her appeared first on The Teenager Today.

Choosing a career and studying for the same is a very crucial aspect of your life. If you choose a field that you dislike, you may not enjoy studying or working in the same field. You need to first get your mind clear about what you wish to do. If you feel very confused, visit a career counsellor who can help you with finding the right career path. Discuss at length with your parents about your aspirations and understand their viewpoints, too. Sitting together and brainstorming is the key to your question. I am sure that in time, you along with your family would be able to find the best-suited option for you.

The post I am confused about my career path appeared first on The Teenager Today.

It is absolutely correct that the pandemic has brought about changes in each one of us at different levels. However, now that things are back to how they used to be, each one of us has faced a slight difficulty going back to this transition. Low levels of motivation have been seen in many adolescents and adults today, the primary reason could be the fact that there is less inertia or a dislike for what they are supposed to be doing. I understand that most students may not enjoy studying, however, it is important to understand that this is the basis of your foundation for the future. It is very often that your present grades would determine the subjects or the career stream that you would select later. Divide your day meticulously keeping adequate time to study, for leisure and to spend time with your family. If you feel you overthink too much try and divert your thoughts into doing something more productive.

The post I overthink everything appeared first on The Teenager Today.

I can understand how overwhelming this feeling must have been. At a given point in life each one of us has at some point felt overwhelmed by the events happening around us, which thus have caused chaos in our life. However, if this continues to persist overtime it is important for us to fix this situation. To be able to fix the situation we first need to accept that there is a situation that needs to be fixed. This can start by you first making a list of all the things that you feel you faulter at. After the list has been made, try and focus on each one of them. For example, if there is a loss of a lot of money as you have mentioned, what do you think is the reason for that. Is it out of being less precautious or overspending? Once you are able to rationalize this it is going to be a lot easier for you to deal with the situation at hand. Not being up to the mark according to your own standards may lead to you having a low self-esteem. Once you are more sorted with your thoughts, I am sure you will feel a lot better and your parents shall see visible results too.

The post I’m tired of proving myself and getting negative results appeared first on The Teenager Today.

When you have a dream that you are totally hung over by, it is important for you to first find a way out by gathering enough information about it, from the same place where you are. I understand that your parents do not support your dream at this point, but you can definitely connect with people from the field online and try and study it better. Social media here would help you learn more about it and also stay connected with the right people. You may not be able to fulfil your dream at this point as you are dependent on your parents, however, keeping all your facts in place would help you pursue it later once you are independent on your own.

The post I want to become a K-pop singer appeared first on The Teenager Today.

An eating disorder in certain cases would require parental help. However, since that is not an option here, I shall try and give you a few suggestions that you can try and work out on your own. Start eating in small portions instead of skipping meals; this would give you the required nutritional value. Exercise daily so there is no increase in weight that bothers you, and simultaneously increase your intake of juices and fruits. Avoid checking your weight daily as this will only increase your daily hassle. Do not check your weight more than once a week. Reward yourself for every time you curb the urge to throw up; a reward can be anything that you like or that makes you happy. You can also maintain a book to write down your accomplishments in this area.

The post I have diagnosed myself with an eating disorder appeared first on The Teenager Today.

An eating disorder is a condition that is best identified by a professional. There are many types of eating disorders. It is however essential that you try and follow regular routine eating habits. You can start with eating small meals a day and monitor the proportion of every meal. Remember that your body is beautiful and you do not need to starve yourself to look in a particular shape. Speak to the parent that you are closer to; tell them about all the symptoms that you experience. Also let them know when exactly this started. I’m sure your parents will understand you well. Depending on the severity of the condition, you may require medical assistance. It is important that you speak to your parents about this, as it may be a situation that is beyond your control and you should not delay getting help.

The post I have diagnosed myself with an eating disorder appeared first on The Teenager Today.

When I realised Parents’ Day was around the corner, I set out to ask fellow humans like me what their parents meant to them. Here is bag full of responses I got.

• My mother is my best friend.
• My dad is a great Maths teacher.
• Mom is the best chef in town.
• Mother is a perfect homemaker.
• My mom… seems like she’s a nurse.
• Dad is a rock, forever supporting me.
• My mother is the best critic around.
• My mom and dad complete me.
• My parents are the finest teachers.
• My folks are my greatest inspiration.

In a nutshell, a parent plays the role of a teacher, chef, nurse, doctor, friend, coach, critic, support and a continuous motivator. Parents nudge their offspring in purposeful directions to prevent them from becoming prey to distractions. Most parents genuinely care for their children and are mindful of their needs even when kids tend to overlook them. Mature parents trust their children’s individuality, continually focusing on their children’s wellness, metamorphosing them into the best version of themselves. Yes, sometimes parents could be overprotective and ‘helicopter’ their children, but their intentions are nonetheless positive. A good parent sows the seed for a beautiful life ahead for children at any age.

Those who’ve grown up without parents tend to realise their value way more. On the other hand, many who have their parents around might take their care and attention for granted; assuming that parenting is “just another role” and “it’s not such a big deal” because “everyone does it”.

Subscribe to The Teenager Today print / digital editions to read the full article.

The post Reconnect with your Superheroes appeared first on The Teenager Today.

Dear Simran,

It is wonderful that you love your parents a lot. Yet you are sad that you cannot live up to their expectations and feel hurt that they compare you with other students.

Looks like you and your parents need to communicate and understand each other more.

You say that you are “very good in studies” but that your parents “expect more” from you. What exactly do they expect? Have you confronted them about it? What is it that you are “not able to do”? Ask for their guidance to achieve what you need to. And if you are truly unable to achieve it, you need to let them know that you can’t or that you need their help.

In what way do they “compare you with other students”? Have you let them know that you feel bad when they do so? Let your parents know that just like every person, you too are unique and different. Discover your uniqueness by writing your strengths, weaknesses, goals, and dreams, and by participating in as many activities as you can and making friends. Most of all, enjoy what you do. It is important that you discover and live up to your own expectations.

You want to make your parents happy and proud of you, but the reality is that no one can ‘make someone else happy’. You need to be happy yourself. When you are happy and use all your talents, your parents will surely be happy.

The post They always compare me with other students appeared first on The Teenager Today.