He'll always be your son but he's not 'your little boy' any more.

He feels like an adult and wants to be treated like one. You potty-trained him and checked under his bed for monsters but now, after 18 years, you're almost equals.

Welcome to the world
Your teen is finally on the way to becoming a civilised human being again! Undoubtedly, you'll still face a few hurdles but the worst of the teenage years are over and you can begin to rebuild a close relationship on a more adult level.

Parents are people too
Although he spends most of his time with friends, he's less dependent upon them for approval. He's more critical and discriminating towards his peer-group and sometimes enjoys the company of his family. He's more confident of his role within the family and expects to be treated on more equal terms. He usually understands the responsibilities this entails and enjoys being asked for advice by parents or siblings.

Girlfriends and boyfriends
He has close platonic friends of both sexes and some of these friendships may become deep and lasting bonds. He'll make new friends through work or university but some of the friendships he establishes now may continue for many years.

One love?
Many late teens settle into steady relationships, developing strong emotional and sexual bonds with their partners. Although a few people do eventually marry their high-school sweethearts, most couples break up.

Relationship breakdowns can be extremely traumatic for both partners. Youth is no barrier to depth of feeling and some teens are even more passionate for their lack of experience. Don't down-play your teenager's feelings. Losses can be very painful and healing can take some time.