What to Do When Your Child’s Dating an Abuser

Like it or not, every teenager will try dating at some point, even if you don’t want them to. Dating is a part of life and a milestone everyone will hit at some point.

But dating isn’t without its own inherent dangers. Since your teenager has limited experience with dating, it’s much too easy for a teenager to fall into an emotionally manipulative relationship with one of their peers. Teenagers often don’t know what a healthy relationship looks like, other than the examples they see at home and in the media. Eager to please their date, they may put up with abusive, manipulative behaviors because “they love them.”

And doing so can have disastrous consequences. Not only can a manipulative, abusive relationship have long-term consequences on the self-esteem of a child but it can lead to depression, anxiety, and more.

The key is identifying a manipulative relationship early on. If you have reason to believe your child is in a relationship with someone who’s abusing them, take action. Technology, more specifically tech that can spy on any cell phone free software download, can be your key to saving your child.

Identifying the Signs

Abuse can be hard to identify. But it tends to come in three categories:

1. Physical abuse is when a child’s boyfriend or girlfriend hurts them physically. They might shove, bite, punch, kick, and so on.
2. Emotional and mental abuse is often verbal. These involve insults, guilt-tripping, put-downs and more.
3. Sexual abuse can happen among teenagers too. It can range from simply being guilted into sex or being assaulted or forced upon.

Identifying the signs can be difficult when you’re on the outside. But you’ll almost always notice that something’s fishy. That's where software that can spy on cell phone calls, texts, emails, and social media comes in.

Your child might have strange bruises or scratches on them that they don’t want to talk about or have strange, inexplicable excuses for them (“I fell down the stairs at his house.”). You may notice a dramatic dip in mood after they’ve gotten in the relationship. They may be secretive about their relationship or express little to no interest in hanging out with their friends or enjoying things, like hobbies, that they used to enjoy.

All of these signs can be difficult to initially identify. But pay close attention and be sure you’re offering yourself as a voice of reason to your child. Something may really be going on.

Using Technology

Consider installing cell phone tracking technology to spy on cell phone of your child's. You don’t have to do this just because your child might be in a relationship. Every parent should consider installing cellphone tracking software if they’re paying for their child’s phone.

When you have information about your child’s cellphone usage handy, it’s easy to figure out what’s going on, at least in most cases. You’ll be able to see texts, photos, and more, even if your child has deleted the messages.

What to Do

It’s important to take action as soon as possible, especially when you know something’s going on.

• Offer to sit down and talk to your child about what’s going on. Emphasize that you’re there for them and teach them about the signs of an unhealthy relationship. Your child may resist at first but eventually they’ll realize what’s really going on.
• Don’t blame your child for entering a manipulative or abusive relationship. Abuse is never your child’s thought. Teach them what healthy relationships should look like and what behaviors are acceptable or not.
• Abuse is a difficult thing for any parent and child to deal with. But with awareness, vigilance and technology, you can help your child identify the signs of abuse and guide them through safely ending their relationship before it’s too late.