If you are a parent to a teen, are you amazed at how things are so different nowadays?
Are you concerned about things like how to keep your teen safe and responsible using social media and other technology? Do you think about how to prepare your teen for life away from home?
One of the biggest challenges in raising a teen could be the fact that we were once teens ourselves. We may have memories of trying to fit in, being bullied, dealing with alcohol and drugs, relationships with our parents, and strong emotions that felt out of control. We can get all tied up with worries about what might happen to our teens based on what happened to us. Sometimes we make decisions about how we parent based on not wanting to do things like our parents did. No wonder this seems so hard!
Consider the following: What if you parented your teens based on what you value as a family? If truth is a family value then you can talk to your teen about truth and you model it yourself. What do you value for your family and how can that be a foundation for parenting? Listening is the key! There are a variety of opportunities to listen to your teens about their lives and what is important to them. Listening can be hard when we have so many ideas and life experiences that we think might help them. Listening supports our connection with them and also lets them know that we trust their ability to work through things that matter to them. Consider that if they are 16 years old, they could be living on their own by age 18 – either in their own apartment or in school. It is important to support their ability to solve their own problems and make well thought out decisions.
We often hear from parents that they love to connect with other parents who are facing the same challenges and learn from one another. Join us for Parents of Teens! for five virtual gatherings via Zoom on the second Wednesday of each month from 7:00 to 8:30 pm New starting date of October 19th. This program is FREE and topics will be chosen by the parents who attend.
Email info@grapevinenh.org or call 588-2620 to register.
