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