Alison, I appreciate your comment--or essay--so much. My mom and younger sister (age 14) are going through what you mentioned with your friend. As a single parent, my mom doesn't always have the capacity to be a psychologist and this creates tension when my sister feels misunderstood and unimportant. You are right, teenagers are selfish in many ways...there's no denying that. Then again, a parent wanting to come home and sit down/watch TV is somewhat selfish too. With mental health awareness increasing, I hope we can start to see a middle ground on both sides; More compassion is needed in most situations because as I mention in the article, both people are most of the time, hurting.

I do really value your comment, Alison. It's admirable to see you consistently speaking your mind in a respectful and kind way.

I look forward to reading your article on a similar topic and would love if you tag me in it so I don't miss it.

Cheers.<3