There is no super-secret manual for parenting a teen, and it can certainly be a confusing time for the entire family.
Here are a few tips that can help you get through the unexpected twists and turns of parenting a teen.
Be Prepared
Being a teen is far from easy. Their brain is not fully developed, and everything from school to friendships to dating to figuring out who they are can be very stressful.
It’s normal for teens to experience mood swings and say things they don’t mean in the heat of the moment.
Being prepared and having a game plan ahead of time can be a big help.
Pick Your Battles
All family members disagree from time to time. Life would be pretty boring if we all agreed on everything, right?
It’s only a matter of time until your teen does something you don’t think is wise, such as staying up too late on a school night or quitting an after-school activity.
Even though you may not agree with their decisions, sometimes the best thing you can do is let them be independent and learn from their mistakes first hand.
Some of the best lessons happen through experiences.
Realize And Empathize
Do you remember what it was like to be a teenager?
Put yourself in their shoes for a moment.
Getting into a fight with a friend or getting a bad grade on a test can be quite stressful.
Now, you know that in a few days everything will be fine and back to normal…
But their mind may be spinning in several different directions, immediately jumping to the worst-case scenario.
Do you remember what those days were like and how you felt?
When you are upset, hearing your parents say everything will be fine isn’t always enough.
If that’s the case, you can open up and let them know how you dealt with similar events when you were a teen and how feelings come and go.
Knowing that they are not alone can help put things in perspective.