Raising teens fills us with worries, fears and doubts.
I have clients who tell me…
“I’m worried my son isn’t social enough, he never wants to go out and do things.
“I’m worried my daughter is too social, all she wants is to be with her friends.” ”
“I wish my daughter would care more about school and grades.”
“I wish my son wasn’t so stressed out all the time about school and grades.”
“My son is total people pleaser and will do anything, anybody tells him to do.”
“My daughter is a non-conformist. She does things her way whether people like it or not and it’s costing her friendships.”
It seems like no matter what our teen does, we worry about it. We are constantly trying to figure out, am I doing the right things? We are putting our self-esteem, our ability to believe in our own parenting skills, in the hands of a moody, hormonal adolescent!
When do I know when step in and get involved, and when to let them figure it out?
How do I know if she is spending time with nice friends or bad influences?
Everything I do, wear, or say embarrasses her. I try not to let it effect me but it’s hard!
Everything I say and do is wrong in the eyes of my teenager. How do I enjoy the company of someone who is constantly criticizing everything I say and acts like my hand on his shoulder is poison?
Becoming a parent changed me for the better. Did it for you, too? When our babies were born, we got a lot of messages that becoming a mom or dad is a wonderful, positive, life changing event. So, even though raising little ones is really hard, I was told it was good for me and I believed it.
I don’t get the same messages about raising teenagers. Instead, society tells me teenagers suck and that this is a difficult time. I don’t hear about how teenagers will change me for the better. That these years, although difficult, will grow a side of myself I’ve never grown before. I would like to believe that I could become a more fulfilled, joyful and wise person through the experience of raising a teen. Challenging times change us, they just do. Why don’t we embrace the teenage years as an opportunity for US to grow? Why not believe that the push and pull of adolescence, the mistakes and rebellions, the fears and the worries, are all here to teach us. Why isn’t dropping our beloved baby off at college for us and our growth and benefit, as much as it is theirs?
What if we took some time while raising teens to not just survive, but to thrive and become more of our best and highest self? What if all this adolescent angst is happening FOR US, not TO us.
Please join me for a free webinar for parents raising 12 – 20 year olds. This webinar will help you understand yourself and your teen better. You will gain powerful insights, helpful tips and tricks, and a big picture perspective. Want to feel more peaceful in your relationship with your teen? This webinar will help you let go, enjoy the ride, and change you for the better.
Click here to register for the free Raising Teens webinar
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