What Your Teen Wants You to Understand

Ever wish you could get inside your teenager's mind, especially on those days when they're super cranky and sullen for apparently no reason at all?  

At this point, four of my kids are in their twenties and four are in their teens. You'd think that after all these years of parenting, I would have figured out the secret to raising teens. But since they alter their moods as fast as a chameleon changes color, I am always seeking new ways to connect. I recently attended a local workshop on raising successful teens and walked away with a better understanding of what makes them tick.

I’m often asked what I consider to be the most difficult years in parenting—toddlers or teens.  In my experience, hands down, I can say that raising toddlers was far more exhausting and, in some cases, even painful (one summer I had four kids under the age of three) than dealing with teenagers. Call me crazy but I’d rather teach a child to drive rather than how to use the toilet!

See Also:  9 Crucial Life Skills to Teach Your Child

Raising teens is no picnic, but when you can think from their perspective, it does make living under the same roof much more tolerable. After listening to the different speakers at the workshop, as well as talking to other parents of teens, I got a better understanding of what frustrates my teens and how I can help.

So the next time you’re feeling like tearing your hair out from your teenager’s attitude, consider these four things he needs you to understand. 

See Also:  7 Ways to Help Build Your Child's Self-Esteem

Raising teens is no picnic, but when you can think from their perspective, it does make living under the same roof much more tolerable.

Be Available for Me

One of the speakers highly recommended The Available Parent: Expert Advice for Raising Successful and Resilient Tweens and Teens written by clinical psychologist, John Duffy...

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