To some of us, the idea of our kids becoming teenagers is just so terrifying. Your little babies that are so innocent and angelic (most of the time) are going to change and grow into mini adults! Hormone-fueled adults! And that can be really scary – especially when you don’t know what to expect.
As much as you may be afraid of the battles that may be coming your way or what this is going to be like, don’t let it worry you. Instead, think about how you can support your kids as they become teenagers and make these years so much better for you both. Let’s take a look at how exactly you can do this.
1. Be Patient
First of all, you’re going to want to make sure that you are patient with them. Now, this can be a hard thing to do when you’re stressed or they’re driving you crazy, but it’s to your benefit. You still want to enjoy time with your kids and raising them, do just don’t let it become a stressful thing. Cultivating more patience at this time will be useful – even a little humor too so you can tease them and laugh off things that needn’t be a huge deal!
2. Try To Understand
But then also, you’re going to want to try your hardest to understand them and what they’re going through. Even though you’re older now and this is a different era – you’ve been there. You’ve been a teen and you know how hard it can be. So really make sure that you slow down and get some perspective. Understanding can help.
3. Be Welcoming & There
The next step is to make sure that you let them know that you are there for them to come to should they need to. You don’t want them to think you’re the enemy – so be welcoming. This is where being positive can come in so well. If you’re just always there for them as their wonderful parent, they’ll know they can confide in you and share things with you and it’ll help them as they grow.
4. Create A Calm Environment
If it feels hectic and stressful to have teens in the house, it’s a reason to make sure that you’re making the home (or one area of the home) as calm as possible. So think about how you can lower tensions by styling the home or setting the tone and manipulating the atmosphere.
5. Keep An Eye Out
But then also, you’re going to want to make sure that you are able to keep an eye out for them. You won’t want them to feel fearful, but the world is a different place now thanks to the internet. So it’s hard to keep an eye on them and use a well-built iPhone message tracker just to be sure that they’re safe. That way, you can make sure that they’re okay even if they’re hiding something from you.
6. Explore Their Options
If they’re stressed about school or the future, be sure to explore options with them. Even when they’re preteens. Think about trying new things with them, exploring career ideas, helping them to get opportunities. It’s a great idea for you to support them through this so it doesn’t become a source of stress.
7. Know That It’ll Pass
And then we have the idea of the hormones and the attitude and all the other negative things about teenagers that we’re anticipating and dreading! But you’ll want to keep two things in mind. The first is that it may not ever come – or it’ll be small – and the second is that it’ll pass. It’s a good idea to work out how to deal with disrespectful behavior and to weed it out or see it through. But know that they have a lot going on right now and that, working on the points above, you’ll be able to make these years work for you both.
And that’s all there is to it. As your children become teenagers, there’s so much change for all of you – and it can be hard to keep up with and adapt to. But this is just something that you need to do together. Just take it slow, make sure that you are honest and open with each other, and make it a positive experience for you both. You’ll be glad that you got through these years as well as possible with your babies that are now little adults!
BY TECHIE MAMMA