‘He said there is no reason for me to have and keep art like that’: Teen using drawing as a coping method after his mom passes away, father punishes him for not including his new step-mom and half-siblings in his drawings

When you're a teenager and angsty and feeling things you've never felt before, there are a lot of different ways to get out those complicated emotions. Maybe you're a kid who gets really into sports. Maybe you keep a diary religiously. Maybe you're one of those kids who punch holes in walls. Whatever way you go about it, those feelings are going to come out one way or another, so it's best to get them out there while you can.

One of the healthier ways to channel these feelings is by doing art. Whether it be through drawing, singing, or acting, art helps you tap into those emotions and release them cathartically without hurting yourself or others. That's why it's particularly damaging when that artistic outlet is compromised. One teen experienced that when his dad made him delete all the drawings he made to help cope with his mom's death because they didn't include his dad's new wife and kids. So, is it this teen's responsibility to include his whole family in his drawings, even when they're not the reason he's making them? Or should he tell his dad to stuff it? Scroll through to figure out what side you're on.