Most mothers who have teens wear a harassed look on their faces. Teenage behavior is often impossible to understand, and fluctuates like a pendulum, from happiness to despair, from overeating and sleeping to literal starvation and sleeplessness, and from passivity to extreme argumentativeness.

Reading the newspapers and watching television only makes things worse.

In the last few days, most newspapers have devoted large sections, to reporting, discussing and analysing the kidnapping and murder of the Andheri teenager, Adnan Patrawala, who was brutally murdered by his friends.

Another shocking piece of news followed from Jalna, where a couple of teenagers murdered a junior student, to get a couple of weeks leave at school.

Parents, especially mothers today are suddenly a worried and scared lot. The sudden realisation is that all is not well with our present generation of teenagers. And most are at a loss to understand why teens do what they do.

Here is a look at ten of the common teenage traits that make them enigmatic, obstinate, and difficult to classify, define or understand.

Rebelliousness

Most teenagers become rebellious, tend to argue a lot, and refuse to fall in line with their parent's wishes.

Also Read: When Your Teen Rebels

Increased Sexual Awareness

Hormones like testosterone in the male and estrogen in the females surge during adolescence. So teenagers become aware of the opposite sex and are hit by an intense sexual desire and drive, which they don't understand, and about which they can do nothing much, at this stage of life.

Dr. Kiran Coelho tells you how to discuss sexual issues with your teenager.

This creates tremendous tension and stress in their bodies and minds, and they are constantly seeking some release or outlet.

They rarely feel comfortable discussing these things with their mothers (or fathers, for that matter).

Mis-information, myths and misconceptions about sex only add to their woes. Romantic involvements too take their toll, with teens developing many crushes, affairs, frustrating heartbreaks, and crimes of passion.

Also Read: Is Consensual Teen Sex Okay?

Need for Independence

Teenagers suddenly discover that they do have an identity of their own, and want to improve on this identity, by being as independent as possible.

This often leads to a clash with parents. Teenagers want to stay out late nights, and this doesn't go well with most parents.

Risk Taking Behavior

This makes the teenager a victim of his own development, which Nature has kept lopsided.

Also Read: Is Your Teen Likely to Commit Suicide?

Hence it is common to read and hear about teenagers racing like madmen on bikes on the road, or teenagers who drink and drive, often breaking rules and regulations.

Need for Privacy

Most teenagers strongly crave for privacy, and want to be left alone for long periods of time.

Since most families in cities don't have enough space to give the teenager his own room, this lack of privacy hurts very badly, and the teen often prefers to spend maximum time away from home, in the company of his or her friends.

As a mother, you should understand that there are a lot of things that your son or daughter don't want to share with you, and are off limits for you.