| Parenting adolescents is a huge challenge, but with | | | | questions you want answered, when they are actually |
| communication, teenage parenting can be made easier | | | | talking to you about something else will make them |
| for you and your child. One of the hardest things in | | | | feel unwanted and unimportant which will make |
| parenting adolescents is communicating in the right | | | | teenage parenting even more difficult for you. |
| way. Here are some ways that teenage parenting can | | | | Lastly, think about how you react. Show your teen the |
| be made a little less stressful: | | | | same respect you would show other people. Give |
| Firstly, recognize opportunities to talk. Whether you're | | | | your full attention to the conversation, don't try and |
| driving your teen somewhere or sharing the washing | | | | multi-task and don't veer off into talking about your day |
| up, you have a chance to talk. The pressure of 'having | | | | if they seem bored listening to it. You will probably be |
| to have a chat' isn't there and you may find that it is a | | | | tempted to try and impose your views onto your teen |
| time your teen can open up to you. One mistake that | | | | at some time, but give your child space and support to |
| many people make in teenage parenting is to try and | | | | formulate their own ideas about the world - they will |
| talk when it suits them and not when it suits their teen. | | | | become a much stronger person for doing so. |
| If your son is in the middle of trying to beat a high | | | | Parenting adolescents can be very hard when they do |
| score on his latest game, or your daughter is just | | | | rebel against the 'family ideals' and it is likely to happen |
| leaving the house, they are not going to want to talk! | | | | to some extent at some point. However, if you do |
| So pick your time, even if you have to be a little | | | | hear something you don't like, don't jump to conclusions |
| creative about creating an opportunity - parenting | | | | and assume the worst. Take a deep breath and say |
| adolescents isn't just about authority, it's about | | | | you will talk about it later if you feel you are going to |
| creativity too! | | | | react in an angry way. Teenage parenting is stressful |
| Secondly, think about what you say. Everybody | | | | enough, without knee-jerk reactions making things |
| knows teenagers who answer in words of one | | | | worse. |
| syllable, or who grunt responses. Don't ask them yes | | | | It is difficult to remember that our parents had the |
| or no questions or they will continue to do it. Ask them | | | | same problems parenting adolescents as we do |
| open ended questions like, 'What happened at the | | | | today, but they did. If you manage to communicate |
| football match?" You may still get a "nothing" or an "I | | | | with your teenager you are doing really well. Try and |
| don't know" answer but at least it increases the | | | | think about ways you can talk to your teenager - are |
| chances of a longer reply and a continuing | | | | there activities you can do together? Think about what |
| conversation. Don't try and turn the conversation round | | | | you say to them - try and see things through their |
| to suit your needs. Parenting adolescents is hard | | | | eyes. Think about how you react - keep calm. Bear |
| enough without trying to create more problems. | | | | these three things in mind and teenage parenting may |
| Bombarding them with demands, instructions, or | | | | just get a little less fraught. |