Teens threatened by their own mothers?

Counsellors are confronted by a new problem these days - teenagers who feel threatened by their own mothers! It's a universally known fact that people judge you by your looks and everyone takes an extra effort to look their best. But teenage girls today are obsessed about their looks. But what happens when the competition starts at home? Counsellors are confronted by a new problem these days while dealing with at least a few teenagers - teenagers who feel threatened by their own mothers! Psychologist and counsellor Jessina Merchant, who had to deal with one such girl (her friend's daughter) recently, says, initially she had no clue why the 15-year-old suddenly started acting strange to her mother. "She gave strict instructions to her mother not to come to her school for any function. She wanted only her father to accompany her," recollects Jessina. Initially, the parents thought it was just a part of teenage rebellion but it didn't take them long to sense that there is something more to this anger towards the mother. That's when they consulted Jessina who conducts 'Awesome Parenting' workshops all over Kerala. "Little girls are proud of their mothers' dressing sense and beauty. The trouble starts during the adolescence stage when their friends compare them with their mothers. It pains when they hear that their mothers look young and beautiful and they hardly look like their mothers," says Jessina. Jessina says she has had to counsel many mothers who approached her with the same issue. "This is the age of yummy mummies. But I always tell them to dress down while attending a school function and never to steal the show from their daughters." Adolescence is an important age for mothers and daughters and lack of understanding and fights between them are common. "Teens always rebel but don't leave it at that. Make an effort to try and find the cause of their rebellious behaviour. There is no problem without a solution," Jessina concludes.