At some point, almost all of us rebel. Against rules, against expectations, against the very people who raised us. It’s so common that it feels less like a glitch in growing up and more like a feature.
Maybe it’s just a side effect of crossing the threshold from childhood into adulthood. Puberty isn’t just a hormonal shift - it’s a neurological one. And with it comes a reshaping of how we see authority, identity, and choice.
During the rebellion, we come out with one of two byproducts:
We yield. We quiet the revolt and learn to align. This often creates a mental pattern of deference - decisions are safe when they echo a higher authority.
We resist. We push back, test edges. This builds a different muscle - autonomy, self-trust, and agency.
Most of us land somewhere between the two, though the balancing act is messy - like when to comply, when to confront, and how to negotiate win-win situations.
So when we see rebellion in our kids, maybe the goal isn’t to shut it down, but to shape the frame. To be the wall they can bounce off safely. To give structure, not silence. Because rebellion isn’t brokenness - it’s friction with purpose. And under the right light, it can be the beginning of a more mature relationship and infinite growth.