There is no doubt that the teen years are hard on the family. This is a time of big changes for your child and hormone levels often seem out of control. So what should you do if your teen seems out of control?
Step 1 - Stay Calm As difficult as it may be keep reminding yourself that this (just like the long forgotten toddler years) is just a phase and it will soon pass. Try to look ahead to the future and also try to think back and remember what your teen years were like
not much fun huh? Plus today's teens have much more pressure on them then we did so try to stay calm.
Step 2 Don't Start a War In a way good parenting almost always seems as though you need to constantly swallow your pride. In many instances this may be the best option and dealing with your teen certainly shouldn't turn into a power struggle. Always listen to your teen's point of view without interrupting and keep your composure even if your teen isn't keeping his. Eventually he will understand that mood swings and outbursts won't really get him anywhere. Sitting down and talking calmly will.
Step 3 Keep an Open Line of Communication If your teen opens up to you and shares something that makes you uncomfortable or upsets you, do everything in your power not to overreact. Stay calm and if you need to just tell your teen you need a few minutes alone and will talk to her about it then. Think things through before talking to your teen about the issue.
If you overreact to what your teen is saying or get angry, chances are she won't open up to you again. As difficult as it may be in many cases, try to get your point and perspective across to your teen without overreaction to ensure she comes to you again in the future.
Step 4 Give Your Teen a Hug Remember the baby and toddler years? Wasn't it easy to just constantly hug and kiss your child? As your children get older this seems to get more difficult. Often times, teens don't want to express emotion especially in front of their peers. You may get used to this routine and hugs will become less common. But this needn't be the case
Find a quite time at home (not in front of your teens friends of course) and give your teen a big hug. Smile at her and let her know how proud of her you are
even if she's made a few mistakes in the past. The teen years are all about learning and mistakes are part of learning. So forget about the outburst she had last night and don't let pride stand in your way, hug your teen and tell her you love her and are there for her. After all the teen years are as tough on your teen as they are on you.
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