| It can be difficult for some parents to know whether | | | | grown up and that you have to make the tough |
| their teenager is just stretching his muscles, or feeling | | | | decisions. You will have to say no to things and they |
| his oats as they say in the UK, or going down a bad | | | | won't like it, that is part of being a parent and you are |
| path and aiming towards becoming totally out of | | | | not helping anyone by shirking away from the difficult |
| control. | | | | situations. |
| If you have a teenager who is being difficult it can be | | | | Having a difficult child is not the same as having an out |
| exhausting, frustrating and frankly it will almost certainly | | | | of control teenager on your hands. How can you tell |
| make you cry on at least one occasion. This is | | | | when it is time to get professional help? That can be a |
| perfectly natural, you are remembering all the cute | | | | really difficult call as there are so many emotions |
| stuff they did , the times you laughed and rocked them | | | | involved in the process. |
| to sleep in your arms. All they are thinking about is how | | | | Remember that you are not an abject failure as a |
| you are trying to control them and stopping them doing | | | | parent if you ask for help, you want to do what is best |
| what they want to do. | | | | for your child. No parent wants to see their kids getting |
| Remember your job is to be a parent not their friend. | | | | involved in self destructive behavior and it is much |
| This is especially important during the teenage years, | | | | easier to kick illegal and dangerous habits when you |
| You should be approachable and listen but you are the | | | | are new to them rather than waiting 20 years. |