Search

Improving your parent- teen relationship

Jillian Gatz
Jan 12, 2016
2 min read

Conflict?

When is the last time you spent some quality time with your teenager?

Do you know what they enjoy doing?

Do you know what they really do with their time?

If you feel that your teenager just changed overnight into this difficult, argumentative, confusing, monster, your not alone.

Would you believe your teenager feels just about the same about you?

Becoming a parent to a pre-teen/ teenager is no easy task, being good at it is no guarentee. You can do everything right (if possible) and still end up with a conflict. Surviving parenting a teenager, without doing major damage to your life, and their future, is possible. Here is a quick start primer... Be ready to not like it all...

1. Go ahead and accept that sometimes our children grow up into someone we dont particularly like.

Teenagers are new growing, soon to be adults, they will try things, and they may be interested in things you despise, or live a way you do not understand. This is all a part of growing up. You could have given your daughter the perfect ballerina, ice cream, miniture pony life, and now she only wears black and listens to metal music. It happenes, but remember this... It doesnt usually stay this way.

2. Spend some time together, their way.

They may or may not want to take that walk or bike ride with you. They may not want to go to a theme park, they may not want to be around you at all. You may just have to park it next to them on the couch as they watch their favorite new MTV sitcom. But if you do, and you watch, they may start talking to you. It may take a few times, but they will sooner or later want to talk to you about what is happening on the show, or if your lucky, something else.

3. Dont expect your teenager to do anything you dont do.

If your not home, dont get upset with them about their food choices, If you dont do anything with them, dont get upset about their interest choices. Take the time to be with them and your presence and example will show them how people behave, live and respond. Be kind with your tone, be patient, and try not to yell. If you show a restraint, sooner or later, your teen will as well.

4. It is never too late to start..... Get some help, counseling is a strength not a weakness. Get some help, some support, make sure your teen knows you love them.