| As a parent of a teenager, how would you | | | | culture blogs for some conversation starters. |
| describe your relationship with your teenager | | | | You do not have to necessarily agree, just |
| last year? Did it go as well as you had | | | | have a dialogue with them. |
| hoped? Are there any areas you would like to | | | | |
| improve in the New Year? If honesty was | | | | 4. Combine mutual hobbies and quality time |
| required, than I bet every parent of a | | | | |
| teenager would agree there is room for growth | | | | In today's overly scheduled society, both |
| in their parenting relationship. Whether you | | | | parents and teenagers can find it difficult |
| are a veteran parent of a teenager or a | | | | to find some time to spend together. Why not |
| newbie, here are some practical suggestions | | | | combine the two. Does your teenager like be |
| of how to improve your relationship with your | | | | outside, and you like to exercise? Why not |
| teenager in the New Year. | | | | learn a sport together? Get your creative |
| | | | juices flowing! |
| 1. Make a weekly time to have breakfast | | | | |
| | | | 5. Implement a Family Night once a month |
| The great thing about breakfast is it is | | | | |
| usually the only time of the day when it is | | | | A Family Night is simply a scheduled time |
| easy to be on time. No prior meetings can | | | | where everyone in the family will be |
| cause delays. No prolonged prior | | | | together. Even with hurried schedules, it is |
| appointments will necessitate a need to | | | | still possible to gather together once a |
| reschedule or cancel. Some families find it | | | | month to spend time together. A Family Night |
| helpful to find a morning during the week | | | | has just one agenda: Fun, fun, fun - no |
| because they are already at home together. | | | | lectures, no handling any conflict or |
| Others find a weekend morning better. Why | | | | discipline problems. Just some time to relax |
| not use this time to catch up on your | | | | and be with one another. It can be as lavish |
| teenager's activities for the day? | | | | as a dinner and play, or as relaxed as |
| | | | ordering pizza and watching pay per view. |
| 2. Make it a point to eat 3-5 meals together | | | | |
| | | | 6. Plan a family vacation |
| I've heard there are studies that suggest | | | | |
| eating meals together as a family decreases | | | | I know this sounds simple, and for some it |
| at risk behaviors in teens. I would | | | | even seems crazy given the difficult |
| attribute this to it provides a time for | | | | relationship you may have with your teenager. |
| parents to stay consistently involved in your | | | | However, family vacations can also be |
| teenager's life happenings, more than just | | | | healing for some parents and teenagers. A |
| once a week. Use this time talk about what | | | | lot of conflict arises from miscommunication, |
| is taking place in their daily lives, not to | | | | short tempers, and just being exhausted. |
| lecture them. Out of 21 meals in a week, what | | | | Family vacations allow parents and teenagers |
| 3 meals will you set aside to eat together | | | | to relax and recharge. Involve your teenager |
| with your teenager? | | | | in some of the vacation planning to give him |
| | | | her a sense of ownership. This can decrease |
| 3. Improve communication with your teenager | | | | the amount of conflict and self reported |
| | | | claims of boredom on your family vacation |
| Use your ears more than your mouth. If you | | | | |
| are unsure what to talk about, find something | | | | If last year did not seem to go as you had |
| to get your teenager's opinion on. If there | | | | dreamed, then do not get discouraged! You |
| is one thing a teenager likes to give, it's | | | | now have over 300 days to strengthen your |
| his/her opinion. Check out the popular | | | | parenting relationship. |