Well, if you think about it, we were once teenagers too.
Teens and parents are always complaining that they cannot talk to each other! They never understand, they are always on logger heads, they never see it "my way", etc resound in the house of teens and parents.
So, as parents, what do we do?
Unfortunately, if you already have a teen in the house, you have to work harder! All communication have to be built WAY before the child becomes a teenager!
- Chat with them, use SMS, use the email… send them messages before the child becomes a teenager.
- Play with them, use the play-station, take turns on the computer racing round the circuit before the child becomes a teenager.
- Cook with them, let them wash the veggies, crack the egg, beat the egg, spread their own toast for breakfast before the child becomes a teenager.
- Sleep over in their room, chat with them into the night like we used to with our friends before the child becomes a teenager.
- If your child is already a teenager, you have to be more cool then their friends so that they want to hang out with you and their friends also ask to hang out with you.
- Shop with them, find out the coolest place to shop and the trends, then SHOW them where to get the same look at a cheaper price!
- Hair styles is important, go to the hair saloon with them and treat them like one of your friends at the shop.
- Chat with them… more importantly, use the SMS a lot! Send them cool messages that they can show off to their friends.
- Movies at midnight, then they get the chance to hang out late into the night and you don't have to worry, you are buying the tickets! Then grab a late night supper at their favorite hang out. They will tell their friends how cool you are!
- Love them! They may not want all the hugs and kisses outside of the house, so try to keep it indoors! Teens are a rocky time… tell them, show them, every day how much you love them!
Happy parenting!
