Mary McCarthy: They get along better with their parents, but today’s teenagers face more challenges

Parents often accompany young teenagers to concerts by stars such as Taylor Swift, who plays in Ireland at the end of next month. Photo: Gareth Cattermole

Mary McCarthy

Parents getting ready to see Taylor Swift with their 13-year-olds next month will agree these days that we are connecting better with our children. When I was a teen in the 1990s, the idea of mothers (and fathers) getting draped in glitter to emotionally sing along to the same songs their kids are obsessed with would have seemed ludicrous.

Grown-ups were more separate – less likely to know the ins and outs of our friendship dramas (though this is not always good) and to be shouting for our sporting success on the sidelines every weekend.