Is my teen just a “normal, moody” kid experiencing the roller coaster of their changing bodies and a desire to fit in and belong? Or is it depression?
This is just one of the many ways find it difficult to understand their teens these days. It’s important to pay careful attention to your teen’s behavior. Even if they won’t talk to you, their actions might just tell you what’s going on.
We’ve all been one. Some of us entered into young adulthood with more or less scars then others. But usually words that come to us when we think about the teenage years include awkward, identity, changes, and confusion. Thinking about middle school and high school can trigger memories of the crowded hallways, lunchroom decisions, peer-pressure, first relationships, and experimentation. Most of us are thankful we survived. So it’s not surprising that when parents experience their children entering this phase of life, they feel a little helpless. We find ourselves feeling confused all over again.
The fact is, children are going to get the information they are looking for one way or another, whether from their peers, television programs, the internet, and so forth. Unfortunately, often times the information they find is erroneous. False information can be problematic for a variety of reasons and can lead our children down paths we don’t even want to fathom. As parents we have the opportunity to give our children accurate and healthy information, in turn giving them a better foundation.
“With all the violence and natural disasters in the media these days my children are constantly afraid. How can I talk to them about these things and help to ease some of their anxieties?”
Today, many young athletes are interested in exploring sports as a source of exercise, extra-curricular activity, or future career opportunities. There are an array of physical and mental developmental milestones that are necessary for young athletes to accomplish and participate in sports successfully. It is essential that parents are aware of the potential negative effects participating in sports could have on their young athlete.
If you struggle with anger, taking the time to measure your angry outbursts can be a helpful tool. Anger has such a negative reputation because of the way people react when this emotion surfaces. I often tell clients that anger is a signal that flashes across our lives to indicate that something is happening which may be very important in that one moment in time.
The way you talk to your daughter about her body and the changes she is undergoing can greatly improve her chances of developing a healthy self esteem and body image. This goes a long way in preventing disordered eating which affects overall health. In particular, the mother in a girl’s life is especially influential in how her daughter will view herself and her body. A mother’s own personal relationship with her body, food, and herself is likely to be passed down to her daughter.
“Much of my job requires me to work out of my home, but unfortunately I can’t get anything done because my kids are always trying to get my attention. How can I get my work done without offending my children?”
“I’m always so busy with work that I never seem to have time to spend with my children. What is something simple and tangible I can do to connect with them?”
Thanks so much for all of your positive responses to my previous post on dealing with the frustrations our children evoke! To answer some of your questions I’ll expand on each of the 6 strategies I previously suggested.
