| We were all teens at one time for some many years | | | | may not have their best interests in mind.The guidance |
| ago even if we don't like to admit it. Many of us can | | | | and advice they receive during these wonderful, but |
| look back and say our teen years were good, but with | | | | yet difficult years can impact the choices they make in |
| many ups and downs as we approached adulthood. | | | | the future, therefore, the present time is crucial. While |
| Some of us maybe were lucky enough to have | | | | some decisions they may have to make will seem |
| parents we could talk to about anything with ease. | | | | insignificant, some could affect the rest of their lives. |
| Today's teens deal with many of the same issues, but | | | | Whether the importance is big or small they need to |
| also deal with some very difficult issues that are more | | | | know they can turn to their parents for everything.I |
| prevalent in today's youth.Your teen will need guidance | | | | have found with my teens, by offering stories or |
| and most likely seek advice. As parents we need to | | | | comparisons to when I was their age, is an effective |
| help insure that our teens will come to us with most of | | | | way to get the conversation started. In a relaxed one |
| these issues. We need to create an atmosphere that | | | | on one situation, casually bringing things up opened the |
| will encourage our teens to turn to us. It can be quite a | | | | door to allow my boys to talk about a similar situation |
| task to get your teen to open up and I found with my | | | | they may have experienced. Sometimes, they tend to |
| teenage boys they were a little reluctant to discuss | | | | refer to a friend that was going through something |
| personal issues. It's quite normal for your teen to seem | | | | similar, which very well could be the case, but at the |
| more distant as they work their way to adulthood. | | | | same time, I take it as a hint. If a close peer is going |
| Many times they will seek advice from their peers, but | | | | through it, most likely, they are too or will be.By letting |
| don't worry, this is normal for kids this age.Peers play a | | | | teens know through comparison, that when you were |
| big part in the teenage years and strong healthy | | | | a teen, you too had similar issues and was once their |
| relationships with their peers is important to them. More | | | | age, will encourage them to open up. Will everything |
| importantly though, I believe they need to be able to | | | | they want to talk about be a major dilemma? The |
| relate and confide in their parents as much as possible. | | | | answer is No. Will they suddenly spill their guts and |
| It's likely this will not happen without some | | | | divulge everything to you from this point on? Not likely |
| encouragement from the parents. Making ourselves | | | | because it takes time to establish that kind of trust. |
| available, showing we understand, and that they can | | | | Yes, they have been your kids for many years and |
| talk openly with us without judgment plays a key | | | | they trust you, but this is Trust taken to a whole new |
| factor in getting them to open up and feel comfortable | | | | level.The idea is to keep the lines of communication |
| doing so.Some issues today's teens face may be | | | | open, show them you care, that you understand and |
| difficult or uncomfortable to discuss, but looking the | | | | you are there for them. Build a strong level of trust |
| other way will not help. If they can't come to you they | | | | with your teen and hopefully when the big issues |
| will seek advice or help elsewhere. Personally, I would | | | | come up, you may be the first to know.This article is |
| much rather have my teen come to me regardless of | | | | written by Tammy Pinarbasi, Owner of the Parent |
| the topic, rather than turn to another source who does | | | | Super Site, You may reprint this article or use it on |
| not love and care for them the way I do. We as | | | | your website, however, please be sure to link back to |
| parents don't want our teens turning to someone who | | | | this site. Thank You... |