Something funny happens at our age: right when we want our space the most is also when our family needs us close the most, even if neither side says it out loud.
And no, getting along better with them doesn't mean going back to being the 6-year-old who told them everything. It means something else.
Wanting your space isn't the same as pulling away
Asking for privacy, having your secrets, wanting to be in your room: all of that is normal and fine. That's not the problem. The problem is when "I want my space" turns into "I don't want anything to do with you" for months.
You can have independence and still be present. They're different things.
Small things that change the mood at home
Stay five extra minutes at the table. You don't have to share your whole life. Just don't bolt the second you're done eating.
Ask them something. Your grandparents, your parents. What they were like at your age, what scared them. You'll be surprised how interesting they get when they stop being "just" your family.
Give a heads-up when you're in a bad mood. A quick "I'm having a rough day, it's not about you" prevents 90% of pointless fights.
The thing nobody sees coming
The people we live with today won't always be this close and this available. It sounds dramatic, but it's exactly what adults repeat over and over. It's not about being sad about it, it's about enjoying a little more of what we do have right now.
This is just one of 5 things worth enjoying at our age. Here they all are.
In "Guía de Campo para Entender a los Humanos" by Mara Solís, Catalina learns to understand her own (pretty complicated) family in the most unexpected way. If the topic speaks to you, you'll love it.
Take a look ↗