Adolescent parenting has multiple consequences on interpersonal relationships. Teenagers are parenting at the age they should be navigating through adolescence. Their relationships with their own mothers, friends, extended family, the child's father, and most importantly, their child are gravely impacted. The teenager is essentially maturing as her child ages. She is now in a whole different bracket compared to non parenting teenagers. .
The relationship between an adolescent mother and her own mother have been found to have two extremely different effects on the relationship between she and her child (East, 1999). In some cases the effect is very negative and in others very positive. Sometimes the two parents relationship is strained where in others it is quite a loving one. In a negative relationship the adolescent mother feels more equal to her mom where respect and adulthood are concerned, yet still so dependent on her not only for herself but also for her child (Black, 1996). This type of dependence is detrimental to their relationship and may lead to transference of emotion to her child in a negative way. In extreme cases even abusing the child physically, medically or emotionally. .
I myself have witnessed this with my sister Princess. Her mom in the first few years of my nieces life acted like a mom instead of a grandma to Princess' daughter . This was because Princess was only 15 years old and so dependent on her mom. When she finally did decide to be a mom my niece didn't respect her. When she tried to parent her it was very difficult and she would have to literally ask her mom to tell Secret the same thing she was telling her in order for Secret to obey her. It was extremely traumatic and took about two years to correct. Princess had to put her foot down with her mom and let her know that certain areas of her child life had to be dominated by her. She explained that she could no longer sit around and act like a sister to a child she gave birth to.
