I’m currently the owner of a teenage son who loves clothes, but shows no interest in the skin on his face. Despite it needing some desperate attention, thanks to teen acne.
For me, it poses a parent’s eternal dilemma: When you can see how your kid’s life could vastly improve with your excellent advice, but imparting your wisdom may make them feel like they’re not good enough or are doing something wrong.
My kid can see the red, inflamed acne around his nose, but he also has a bajillion better things to think about, which I guess is a good thing. We all know someone whose high school years were marked by how they felt about their face. But then again, it’s my job as a parent to show my kid how to do better… isn’t it?
This internal struggle culminated in me sneaking into his room while he was fast asleep and applying a bit of one of my vitamin A moisturisers (I have many) over the congested areas. It brought down some of the redness in minutes... but then in a panic, I Googled whether I’d poisoned him or ruined his sperm or something. I hadn’t. Parenting nail.