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If you’re a parent to a teen, you probably already know the importance of their relationships. They value friendships, sometimes even over family relationships. It’s not unusual for adolescents to spend enormous amounts of time with their peers and to value the opinions of their friends over anyone else. Because of this hyperfocus on relationships, it’s important that you, as the loving parent you are, understand the types of relationships your child is in. It’s helpful to understand the unspoken rules and the teen dynamic of these relationships, too. Once you do, you can better determine the healthy and good relationships from the toxic and dangerous ones. Below are some of the most common relationship dynamics your teen will face. The Best Friend A true best friend can be a beautiful gift from God. “A friend loves at all times” (Proverbs 17:17 NIV) isn’t just a poetic verse, but a truth and a benchmark for relationships. A “best friend” is usually an obvious relationship in any teen’s life. They are mentioned often and are someone your child fiercely defends. And this can be a wonderful thing. When your child has a best friend, they have an advocate, a companion, and someone to hang out with both in and out of school. Unfortunately, this best friend doesn’t always align with your values. When the best friend is the only voice that matters, the balance of power shifts. If your teens start to mirror everything about the friend, like their language, values, choices, and moods, it’s time to take a critical look at the relationship. Ask your teen some tough questions about morals, values, and behavior, and reestablish your own expectations and set boundaries. The Frenemy A frenemy is a “friend” who gives just enough effort for connection to keep your [...]