 |
| A little vacation or getaway is the perfect opportunity to reconnect with your teen ... and other kids as well! |
Yet, when it comes, it brings its own challenges.
Parenting
never really gets any easier, it just changes. Teenagers today are faced with
insurmountable pressures at school and from their peers. They feel they need to
look and act a certain way to fit in, they are inundated with pictures of
beautiful people online, with perfect lives that they need to emulate. It can
all get too much. The pressures of being a teenager, as well as hormonal
changes, can lead to negative behaviors and mood and quite suddenly your once
lovely child that needed you, is someone that you don’t quite know how to be
around.
But, having a positive relationship with their parents can
help them negotiate their teenage years without issue as well as enriching your
own life. Here are some great tips to help you to reconnect with your babies.
Go for a Walk
We complain that our children spend too much time on phones
and tablets. But, if we're completely honest, this is something that most of us
are guilty of. Try to go on regular family walks and impose a tech ban on this
time. Being outdoors, away from real life can sometimes be all it takes to get
them to open up to you again.
Start a Hobby Together
Teenagers have a habit of thinking that they are alone in
their feelings and that they are the first person to have them. Starting a new
hobby, something that you can share and do together is a great way of bridging
that gap. You could build a website
together or try a new exercise. Try to make it something that neither of you
has any experience in so you can have fun learning together.
Take a Break
Taking a vacation is the best way to escape from the real
world and leave your troubles behind. Visit
Zion National Park Hotel for a relaxing break away from all of your
stresses. Spend some time exploring nature, playing games and eating together
as a family.
Try to Keep in Touch
The passions, interests and even vocabulary
of youth seem to change all of the time, and it’s certainly very different from
when you were younger. Try to keep in touch with what your children like and
who they are. Ask them about things and show a genuine interest. They’ll love
getting to teach you something for a change.
Trust Them
Trust is a big thing for teenagers. Showing that you trust
them will help your relationship massively. But, make sure there are clear
rules and boundaries and consequences if they break them.
Parenting a teenager can be difficult, there’s no denying
that. But, it can also be great fun. As they approach adulthood, family time
together will be limited. Enjoy it while you can.
 |
| Today I trusted my son to drive himself and my daughter to homeschool co-op and home!!! |
