Don't assume your teenager does not want to be hugged. Ask him or her what is comfortable. Be a good companion. But this does not mean teens don't want to spend time with you. Ask what your teen enjoys doing with you, and then set a time to do it.
Adolescence is a puzzling time for fathers and their teenagers.
It might sometimes seem easier to just give up. But right now, your child needs your love and acceptance more than ever. But parenthood doesn't stop after a divorce, and family life professionals say even fathers who see their children infrequently should resist the temptation to be a friend rather than a parent. To spend quality time together, fathers might want help their children learn more about their family tree by putting together a genealogy chart, said Ella Mae Bard, family and consumer sciences agent for Ohio State University Extension in Knox County. Standard generation charts can usually be found at the local library.