FAMILY & HOME
HOW TO STAY SANE WHILE RAISING TEENS
By Ellie Grossman
Being a teenager is challenging, and so is raising one to
be a caring, independent, responsible adult. This stage
in life involves mood swings, irrational behavior, bodily
changes, and a sudden increase in appetite. Wait a
minute—am I describing puberty or menopause? Let’s
face it—hormones can wreak havoc in a household, both
for the teens and their mom.
Fear not. The good news—this too shall pass. And the
bad news—this too shall pass. So take a deep breath. You
will survive the ups and downs of parenting teens. Here
are some tips to stay sane while navigating through these
confusing years.
They grow up fast. Before you know it, you’ll be an
empty nester and miss those days when you picked up
wet towels from your kid’s carpeted bedroom floor. It
seems like only yesterday when I was an anxious room
mom worrying about the perfect peanut-free snack
to serve at the winter-themed holiday party. And now
today, I’m freaking out about when the time comes
that I have to teach my teenaged daughter how to put
a condom on a banana. The inevitable sex talk is the
best way to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted
diseases. Plus knowledge is power, especially for girls.
Learn from mistakes. Your job as a parent is to let
go—that’s not easy. Your goal is to raise a person who is
able to leave home, eventually get a job, survive on his
or her own, and care about the community. Helicopter
parents who hover over their child’s every move do their
child (and the rest of society) a huge disservice because
these young people never learn to be leaders and solve
problems, which our future depends on. Failure is not a
bad thing; it’s a learning opportunity.
Show your love. So much attention is given to teenagers
when they do something wrong. Praise them when they
make positive choices. Even though they act like they don’t
care about what you think, most of the time, they do.
Also, find time to be together, such as a family dinner at
least once a week. Allow your child to plan the menu and
encourage him or her to help prepare the meal. Cooking
together is a fun way to connect and also teaches an
important life skill. Plus, even picky eaters have a better
chance of enjoying the food if they make it themselves.
Keep lines of communication open. Even if your
teens spend most of the time in the bedroom with the
door locked, don’t give up. Give them their space. Let
them know you are here for them when they are ready
to talk. Try not to judge them or be overly critical. Listen.
Communication is key to raising healthy teens in today’s
world. Parents are often in the dark about the dangers of
cyber safety, so be aware of where your teenagers hang
out in the virtual world, such as Twitter, Instagram, and
Snapchat.
Let them express themselves. It’s natural for some teens
to want to rebel and change their appearance to be different
than their parents. Some choos