“Mom, I just don’t fit in…”
August 12, 2011Is Group Therapy Right for You?
August 30, 2011Let’s face it, as a parent raising a teenager is going to be one of the toughest challenges you have ever faced in your entire life. All of a sudden this cute little child wants to be their own person and no longer wants you hovering over them.
It can be quite a shock for many parents raising a teenager. But yes it is true, you will no longer be the center of their life and your teen is going to want to experiment and try things out on their own. So if you are raising a teenager, here are some things to keep in mind.
Your teen is your teacher
Your teen is going to be reflecting to you how you are as a parent when it comes to communication, patience, and guidance. This does not mean that everything falls on your shoulders. What it does mean though is that if your teen is acting out in a certain way towards you, they are reflecting back to you your communication and patience skills. Your children are also teaching you about you! So listen carefully to what they have to say.
They are not perfect
Many parents lose patience with their troubled teen pretty easily. But as a parent raising a teenager, you must remember that your teen is still learning and stumbling around and falling down is going to be a natural process of this learning curve. try to remember where you were at their age but at the same time don’t just compare and expect them to be the same as you. We all have our strengths and weaknesses and maybe what they are good at you are not.