Your Parenting Matters

There is a lot you can do to improve your relationship with your teen. Imagine the teenage years being a positive experience for both you and your teen and sending them off to college or an apartment with positive feelings of success instead of feelings of relief that he is finally gone. Why do so many parents expect their teens to be difficult and rebellious?

One of the biggest complaints of teens is that their parents do not listen to them, do not think their ideas or opinions are valid or important. Learning to really listen to your teen is a skill. Can you remember the last time you really heard what your teenager was saying without giving advice or disagreeing? Can you remember a time when you were talking to someone and it ‘seemed’ like they were listening but you knew their attention was somewhere else. It makes you feel unimportant. Teens deserve your respectful listening especially when you disagree. It is an opportunity to openly share  your values and opinions without lecturing.

Busy parents think they can listen to their kids while cooking dinner, composing a grocery list, or just not paying attention. When you give your teen or anyone else for that matter, your full attention so that they know you really heard them, you will find that it makes a huge difference in your relationship and what your teen will share with you. Listening to someone with your full attention is a gift and a powerful relationship tool.

It is a rude awakening when parents realize they cannot MAKE their children do anything. Parents can threaten and punish children toward good behavior but a better way is to find new ways to foster cooperation, respect and positive behavior of their teenagers. Parenting classes are a great way to help parents make the changes that will really make the difference in parenting adolescents.

When you learn how to change your response to your teenager, his behavior will change. Parenting teenagers can be both challenging and rewarding. Take the time to learn effective parenting skills and your relationship with your teenager and entire family will benefit.

There is a lot you can do to improve your relationship with your teen. Imagine the teenage years being a positive experience for both you and your teen and sending them off to college or an apartment with positive feelings of success instead of feelings of relief that he is finally gone. Why do so many parents expect their teens to be difficult and rebellious?

One of the biggest complaints of teens is that their parents do not listen to them, do not think their ideas or opinions are valid or important. Learning to really listen to your teen is a skill. Can you remember the last time you really heard what your teenager was saying without giving advice or disagreeing? Can you remember a time when you were talking to someone and it ‘seemed’ like they were listening but you knew their attention was somewhere else. It makes you feel unimportant. Teens deserve your respectful listening especially when you disagree. It is an opportunity to openly share  your values and opinions without lecturing.

Busy parents think they can listen to their kids while cooking dinner, composing a grocery list, or just not paying attention. When you give your teen or anyone else for that matter, your full attention so that they know you really heard them, you will find that it makes a huge difference in your relationship and what your teen will share with you. Listening to someone with your full attention is a gift and a powerful relationship tool.

It is a rude awakening when parents realize they cannot MAKE their children do anything. Parents can threaten and punish children toward good behavior but a better way is to find new ways to foster cooperation, respect and positive behavior of their teenagers. Parenting classes are a great way to help parents make the changes that will really make the difference in parenting adolescents.

When you learn how to change your response to your teenager, his behavior will change. Parenting teenagers can be both challenging and rewarding. Take the time to learn effective parenting skills and your relationship with your teenager and entire family will benefit.