The time your teen was a toddler seems so long ago. Time passes quickly, and now there are days dealing with your teen that seem like they last forever. Here are some ways to make teen interactions more amicable.
Communicating With Teens
The key issue in successfully raising teens is communication -- and these interactions are not always easy! Often teens are texting while you are shouting about a dirty room. How do you bridge the gap? Well, you could start by texting your teen about cleaning that room! Choosing methods of communication they prefer (especially texting or instant messaging) will help establish more effective conversations.
Take a Break
If you find yourself stressed out about dealing with your teen and you don’t think you can stand listening to one more sarcastic under-the-breath comment or seeing one more dramatic eye roll, sometimes the only answer is to take some time out for yourself. Getting away from the teen often helps you get perspective and remember what it is you love about him or her in the first place.
Disciplining Teenagers
If you have been driven to the brink by missed curfews, cell phone minute overages, and clothes on the floor, you will need to consider your options for disciplining your teen. Don’t waste your time yelling. Set clear (written if necessary) guidelines for what behavior you expect from your teen, and outline the consequences if the behaviors are not taking place. For example, if the behavior you expect is that the teen will not use more than 1000 text messages and he uses 1250, he could lose the phone privilege for a week and pay back the difference in cost. Having written expectations/consequences helps reduce dramatic interactions. Consider a parent-teen contract.
Accentuate the Positive
So much parental interaction with teens can be stressful. Make a list of all the things you love about your teen, and a list of 3-4 things you enjoy doing with your teen. If you like watching scary movies with your teen, rent some and plan a movie night. If your teen loves shopping (as he/she probably does!) -- plan a shopping afternoon together. If your teen likes a certain sports team or musical band, buy some tickets and make a fun day of it.
Don’t forget to give yourself credit. It’s easy to walk around blaming yourself for not doing a good job raising your kids when you’re probably doing a perfectly fine one. Raising teenagers isn’t easy, but improving lines of communication and streamlining discipline methods can make it significantly easier.
Read more articles about Parenting Teens.
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