It’s no secret parents think they know best when it comes to their teens, but if you ask teens, mom and dad may not necessarily be doing everything right. As kids get older there are often a lot of things parents are in the dark about, but now teens are letting them in on some secrets.

A new Reddit thread asked teens to share the things they think their parents really need to hear, and they certainly didn’t hold back.

Things teens think their parents need to hear include:

  • “Just because I don’t want you going through my phone doesn’t mean I have something to hide. It means that it’s an invasion of my privacy.”
  • “Don’t protect us from everything or we won’t be able to deal with anything.”
  • “If we tell you about our depression, anxiety, or panic attacks, it means we trust you. Don’t break that trust by brushing it off like it’s nothing.”
  • “You may be older, but that doesn’t automatically make you right. Sometimes I actually do know what I’m talking about.”
  • “‘Because I said so’ is not a valid argument.”
  • “Not all of my friends are drug addicts.”
  • “Please don’t criticize your kid’s appearance, whether it’s their weight, fashion sense, or how they look in general. You’re meant to build them up, not tear them down — and it will stick with them for the rest of their life.”
  • “Just tell us you’re having sex, and we’ll leave you alone. Don’t try and hide it. We know.”
  • “You’re just as addicted to technology and social media as we are.”

So…

  • Um, “because I said so”IS too a valid argument…
  • Parents, are you shocked by any of the revelations on this list?
  • Do you think you have a good relationship with your teen? If not, what are the biggest issues you’re dealing with?
  • When you were growing up, what things do you wish you could have told your parents?

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