Growing Up

Rahul is going through physical and emotional changes. His parents talk to him gently about the changes happening during puberty.

Meanings in Rahul, Anita (mother), Vikram (father)

Key words and phrases

pubertythe stage when a child's body changes into an adult'sPuberty usually starts around age twelve.

changeto become differentYour body is going through a lot of change right now.

emotiona strong feeling, like joy or angerIt's normal to feel many emotions at your age.

matureto become more grown-up in behaviourYou're becoming more mature every day.

awkwardfeeling uncomfortable or embarrassedHe felt awkward talking about it at first.

confidencea feeling of trust in yourselfTry to speak with more confidence.

moodychanging mood often and easilyTeenagers can sometimes feel moody.

hormonea chemical in the body that causes changesHormones are responsible for many of these changes.

growth spurta period of fast physical growthHe had a growth spurt this year.

comfortablefeeling relaxed and at easeYou can talk to us if something doesn't feel comfortable.

identitythe sense of who you are as a personTeenagers often explore their own identity.

independencethe ability to do things on your own without relying on othersHe wants more independence as he grows older.

self-consciousoverly aware of and worried about how you look or seem to othersHe felt self-conscious about his changing voice.

peersomeone of the same age or group as youHe compares himself a lot to his peers.

body imagehow someone feels about the way their body looksIt's common to struggle with body image during teenage years.

insecurenot feeling confident or sure of yourselfHe felt insecure about being shorter than his friends.

acceptancethe feeling of being approved of or belongingEvery teenager wants acceptance from their friends.

privacythe state of being free from others' attention or interferenceHe asked his parents to respect his privacy.

responsibilitya duty that you are expected to handleGrowing up means taking on more responsibility.

open upto start sharing your thoughts and feelings honestlyIt took a while for Rahul to open up to his parents.

Useful sentences

Ask Is it normal to feel this way?
Answer Yes, it's completely normal at your age.
Ask Why am I growing so fast?
Answer You're having a growth spurt — it happens to everyone.
Ask Can I talk to you about something personal?
Answer Of course, you can always talk to us.
Ask Why do I feel moody sometimes?
Answer It's because of the hormonal changes in your body.
Ask Is it okay if I don't want to talk right now?
Answer That's okay, we're here whenever you're ready.
Ask Why do I feel so self-conscious about my voice changing?
Answer That's normal — everyone feels a bit self-conscious during these changes.
Ask Can I have more privacy in my room now?
Answer Yes, we'll respect that as you grow older.
Ask Why do I compare myself to my peers so much?
Answer It's common at your age, but try to focus on your own growth.
Ask How do I build more confidence and acceptance among my friends?
Answer Be yourself — real acceptance comes from being genuine.
Ask Does taking on more responsibility mean I'm growing up?
Answer Yes, and we're proud of how you're handling it.

Dialogue

AnitaRahul, you've been quiet lately. Is everything okay?

RahulI don't know, Mummy. I feel a bit awkward about everything.

VikramThat's completely normal. Your body is going through puberty.

RahulIs it normal to feel moody without any reason?

AnitaYes, it's the hormones. It will get easier with time.

RahulThanks for explaining. I feel a little better now.

VikramYou can always open up to us — there's nothing to feel insecure about.

RahulSometimes I feel insecure comparing myself to my peers.

AnitaThat's natural, but remember every person's growth and identity is different.

RahulI understand, Mummy. I'll try not to worry so much about it.

Common mistakes

Saying only "I have emotions" instead of naming the feeling, e.g. "I feel anxious" or "I feel excited."
Saying "I become mature" instead of "I am becoming more mature" (use the present continuous for an ongoing change).
Saying "It happens with everyone" instead of "It happens to everyone."
Saying "I am insecure from him" instead of "I feel insecure around him" or "I feel insecure compared to him."
Saying "Give me privacy" instead of "Please give me some privacy" or "I need some privacy" (privacy is usually used with "some" or "my").
Saying "I want open up" instead of "I want to open up" (don't drop "to" before the verb).

Quick quiz

1. What is the stage when a child's body changes into an adult's called?

2. Complete: "Teenagers can sometimes feel ___."

3. What causes many physical changes during puberty?

4. What word means someone of the same age or group as you?

5. Complete: "He felt ___ about his changing voice."

6. What is the state of being free from others' attention or interference called?

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