by Julia Neiman, Our Special Guest on Parenting and Teenagers
In response to some of the comments made to our recent article What Do Teenagers and Two Year Olds Have In Common: Comments made by Nick, Yahya, Susan and Tracey… (more…)
by Julia Neiman, Special Guest Contributor for Parents with Teens
Do your teenagers remind you of two year olds? There’s a good reason for that – it’s all about autonomy and self-identity.
When our children are two years old, they are learning to be less dependent on us. They are moving around in the world without needing our constant hand to steady their steps, they are exploring the world and testing their boundaries. And they have temper tantrums as a form of expression.
When they become teenagers, they are also learning to be less dependent on us, they are moving around in the world without needing our constant supervision, they are exploring the world aided by being able to drive, and they are testing their boundaries. And they have temper tantrums as a form of expression. The teenage years are complicated by peer pressures which may be in direct conflict with what you’ve taught them or advocate. Granted, their tantrums are a bit different when they are teenagers than when they are two, but the results are similar – they both make us crazy. How do parents cope? (more…)
Many questions are being asked about teenagers. The teenage years have become “typed” as a negative phase of growth, which adults ought to “just accept it and not take personal” the complexities of transitioning into adulthood.
Many questions and answers exist about understanding teenage behaviors, and why self-harm and teen death tolls are increasingly high. The numbers also indicate that the turn to sex, drugs and drinking seem to be more common place… leaving lots of parents asking, “what’s going on? Is this true… How do I really get through.” (more…)
Special Contribution by Tara Ewalt, the @momofaaddict
Through a Twitter request, @momofaaddict sent @ParenTvNetwork a DM expressing her struggle. She wanted to openly share her concern for her child who is an addict. Find other parents and learn what other parents may be experiencing — even learned, as young adult death tolls are sadly increasing. The following is her writing that came from our Tweet exchange.
My Sweet Boy, an Addict
When I started to write about my son’s addiction, it was in an anonymous blog. I did not want anyone to know that I had a child who is a drug addict. It is embarrassing.
After all what kind of mother would allow her child to be this way? What kind of mother was I to have him turn to drugs? What would my friends and family think? It was a secret that was killing my family; not only was his addiction killing us, keeping the secret was too. For me it was really hard to see my son go down this path. I tried so many times to rescue and help him; nothing worked no matter how hard I tried. No matter what I did it was never enough to get him off drugs.
I felt that I somehow had screwed him up so badly, that I caused this. (more…)
