While your teen is trying to find himself he may inadvertently hurt your feelings by alienating you. For example, you may have been privy to comments such as, “Leave me alone!” or “You don’t understand anything, you were a kid 100 years ago!” As a parent you might feel abandoned by your teen as he searches for his identity and that is a really tough pill to swallow.

   
   Try to remember, your teen is very uncomfortable with the new needs, challenges and emotions that he is faced with socially and academically.
  

It is because of this discomfort that he might go about his personal quest for identity in a hurtful way. Teens, too, have been blindsided by all of this newness, despite how many talks you have had about puberty and the challenges of growing up. Although it is hard, try not to take it too personally. Your child loves you and is simply experiencing the dilemma of how to express himself in many ways.