Parenting Your Teen

Teenage Eating Disorders - What To Do As A Parent

noreply@blogger.com (Elite Life Coaching) — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 08:00:00 +0000

If you believe your teen has or is developing an eating disorder you should seek professional psychological and medical treatment as soon as possible and be aware that the treatment process for a developed eating disorder can be a lengthy process. If you are concerned that your child has a poor body image but do not feel that they have any real eating disorder, the following suggestions may be helpful:

1. Don’t encourage your teen to eat, watch them eat, or initiate discussions about weight. This will just further draw attention to the issue and they may pick up on your nervousness about this issue.

2. Don’t speak negatively about food or weight and don’t point out how good someone looks just because they are thin.

3. Don’t feel guilty as a parent if your teenager is struggling with body image – it is not your fault and it is important that you do not focus on feelings of guilt but rather on ways you can offer support.

4. Don’t let your concerns cause you to neglect other things in your life such as outside interests or other family members who need your attention and support just as much as your teen who is struggling with their body image.

5. Don’t put them down or try to compare them to others – this will only further reduce their low self esteem.

6. Let them know that you are there to listen if THEY want to talk about it.

7. Put a lot of focus on other things they do well – not just on how they look so that they see their self worth as more than just physical appearance.

8. Encourage your teen to be active doing things they enjoy rather than focusing on specific weight loss activities that are rigid and feel like a chore instead of fun.

9. Encourage your teen to find something positive about themselves each day – it may be a challenge at first but will help them to focus on their competencies and positive things they can offer others.

10. Have fun and nutritious foods in the house so your teen does not feel guilty when they do want to snack.

11. If at all possible (and this is very, very difficult), try to limit your teen’s exposure to the media which portrays unrealistic body types.

12. Compliment actions – compliment what they do, not how they look.

13. Love your child – they will sense this and your acceptance is extremely important to them even if they don’t show it!

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Self Injury In Teens: Warning Signs

noreply@blogger.com (Elite Life Coaching) — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 08:00:00 +0000

Teens who cut or burn themselves usually keep this behavior very secretive and cut in places that are covered by clothes because they are ashamed of their behavior and know that it is not socially acceptable. It may be difficult for parents to pick up on warning signs because often times these teens appear to be doing well and are not displaying any apparent signs of distress. It is important to note that any of the signs below alone is not necessarily cause for alarm, however, noticing several of these signs in your teen may be cause for concern:

1. Wearing long sleeve shirts or pants even when it is very warm out

2. Acting vague and evasive or angry when asked about cuts, burns or scabs

3. Refusing to wear a bathing suit in the summer (not related to being embarrassed by their weight) when typically they have enjoyed swimming

4. Keeping of razors or lighters in their room

5. Appearing more secretive than they usually do – spending a lot of time alone in their room

6. Disposing of bloody tissues in their room or bathroom

7. Associating with a peer who is known to self injure

8. Being suspected by anyone of self injuring (friends, teachers, family, etc)

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Teenage Dating: Questions To consider

noreply@blogger.com (Elite Life Coaching) — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 08:00:00 +0000

One concern I have heard voiced by parents of teens who are beginning to date is how much freedom they should give their teenager and should they allow their teenager and their boyfriend / girlfriend to ever be alone. Both questions are tricky and somewhat specific to each family’s situation. Some things to keep in mind when making this decision in your situation are:

Is my teenager generally responsible?
Does my teenager generally make healthy decisions?
Do I know at least a little about my teen’s boyfriend or girlfriend?
Do I think my teenager will let me know if something is wrong?
Does my teenager generally have good boundaries and decent self esteem?
What parameters can I put in place to allow my teen a little freedom which can gradually increase as we feel this situation out further?

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Conflict Among Parents

noreply@blogger.com (Elite Life Coaching) — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 08:00:00 +0000

Despite how difficult such situations are, it is critical that parents do not let their children witness their conflicts. I cannot tell you the number of children who I have seen for therapy who are emotionally damaged and extremely confused because their parents constantly argue and say negative, rude and disrespectful things about one another. I am not suggesting that it is easy to keep all of these emotions to oneself, however, these emotions should be shared with other adults or professionals and not with one’s children.

Some tips for parenting if you are a parent in this situation:

1. Speaking with the other parent: if you know that you become easily emotionally charged when speaking with your child’s other parent then it is important that you have these conversations when not in the presence of your child. It is never in a teenagers best interest to witness situations where parents become negative, yell, say negative things or become verbally abusive towards one another. The damage from this can last years and can even impact your child’s ability to form healthy, trusting relationships as an adult.

2. Feeling like the other parent is undermining what you are trying to do: often times in these situations a dynamic gets set up where there is a “good parent” and a “bad parent”. Generally the “good parent” lets their teenager do what they want and does not have a lot of rules or consequences while the “bad parent” attempts to maintain rules and structure for their teenager. In these situations, it is really important that both parents figure out a way to come to SOME agreement about rules and expectations. Sometimes this can be done through a third party (therapist, friend, etc) which can eliminate conflict – what is important though is that it is done. When going through this process, pick the things that really matter and allow yourself to let some other things go. For example: it would be important for parents to agree that their teen must be getting passing grades and send this message consistently to their teenager while it may be okay for parents to not agree on how neat their teenager needs to keep their room in each of their homes if they are living separately.
3. Feeling like your teenager should know what the other parent is doing or did: parents often feel like it is important for their teenager to know that the other parent only visits with them because they are mandated to do so or that they are not paying what they are supposed to be paying each month. In some situations, parents feel like they need to tell their teenager all the awful things that the other parent did to them. In these situations, who is really benefiting from your telling your teenager these things? Usually, it is the parent who is benefiting because they are reacting to strong, negative emotions they are feeling. What I have found over the years is that in the end, teenagers and young adults know what is going on and ultimately know which parent is consistent and which one is not. In addition, I have found that teenagers become very resentful of parents who bad mouth one another (even if what is being said is true) because it causes them a lot of confusion and feelings of betrayal by both parents. Teenagers will figure this out over time and will be much better off if they see that their two parents are able to be civil and respectful of one another while in their presence.

Of course if you ever truly believe someone is doing something that harmful, illegal or significantly damaging to your child you should take immediate steps to make sure your child is safe.

Single Parents Of Teenagers

noreply@blogger.com (Elite Life Coaching) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 08:00:00 +0000

While being the single parent of a teenager can be very challenging, there are some fairly simple steps you can take to help reduce the overall stress.

1. Make sure you take time for yourself.
It is very easy to get caught up in all the demands of work, family, appointments, etc. but it is critical that you take time EACH week for yourself. Whether taking walks, a warm bath, having a favorite hobby or going out for dinner with a friend, you need some time for yourself where you are not responsible for the needs of others.

2. Schedule a time to discuss bigger issues / decisions with your teenager.
This can help the “on the fly” demands that your teenager may place on you. I have worked with parents who have found it helpful to schedule one or two times per week where they are available to just focus on talking with their teens. This could be over dinner, while going for a walk or while driving to a schedule appointment. I have also had parents tell me they have their teenager email or text message them if they need to talk so that they can set up a time later in the day that is convenient for both (this is a sign of the times!). This allows for the conversation to take place when they can be fully focused on their teenager’s needs.

3. Allow other adults into your teenager’s life.
All parents, but particularly single parents, should welcome appropriate adults into their teenager’s lives. This should not been seen as a weakness or as a sign that a parent cannot do “their job” effectively. Teens benefit from different perspectives and from learning from different adults. Allowing other adults (a coach, neighbor, Aunt, Uncle, older cousin, etc) to play a role in your teenagers life not only takes some of the burden off you but also allows them to have a richer experience in general. You will always still be the parent and make the final decisions!

4. Have your own support network.
Nobody can do everything on their own. As a single parent, it is important that you have your own support network. As a parent, you don’t want to burden your children with your fears or worries but you do need some outlet for yourself. Using extended family, friends or other single parents for support and advice is invaluable and can really help reduce your overall stress. Being socially connected to others has many positive benefits for all adults and can be especially helpful during the unpredictable teenager years.

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Parenting Your Teen: The Consultant Parent

noreply@blogger.com (Elite Life Coaching) — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 08:00:00 +0000

The Consultant Parent

A normal part of adolescent development is the shift from thinking in a very concrete manner to being able to think abstractly. Because there is significant development going on in the adolescent brain, it is a critical time to help shape behavior patterns and overall brain wiring. This change in thinking is one of the reasons why parents begin to notice that their teenagers start to question or resist things that were never questioned by them before.

Consultant Parents ask questions and offer choices to their teenagers whenever possible. The goal is to have teens engage in the decision making process when possible and in a safe manner so that they can learn and build upon decision making skills. Parents who are in a consultant role use “I” statements instead of “You” statements. For example, “I am wondering what you would think would be a reasonable curfew on a school night when there is an exam tomorrow” instead of “You will stay in and study since you are not getting good enough grades”. In addition to using “I” statements, consultants ask a lot of questions (not accusatory questions but rather curious questions) which foster thinking more than lectures will ever do.

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Parenting Your Teen: Are You Too Relaxed?

noreply@blogger.com (Elite Life Coaching) — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 08:00:00 +0000

The Laissez-Faire Parent

This is not technically a parenting style, however, it is something I have seen often enough that it was worth mentioning. “Laissez-Faire Parents” are hands off with their teenagers and generally allow their teens to do whatever they wish to do. These are parents who may act like they are best friends with their teenager. This type of parenting can evolve from a parent’s need to feel well liked and loved by their teenager, out of guilt because they are always working or busy with other things, out of frustration and “giving up” or out of necessity due to emotional or substance abuse problems on the part of the parent. Teens are not able to make all their own decisions and not having guidance from parents ongoing can lead to the development of very poor decision making skills and potentially serious or dangerous consequences for these decisions.

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Parenting Your Teen: Are You A Drill Sergeant Parent?

noreply@blogger.com (Elite Life Coaching) — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 08:00:00 +0000

Drill Sergeant Parents

If you think about the role of a drill sergeant, it is to give orders and tell others what to do and to punish those who do not follow exact orders. This is what “Drill Sergeant Parents” do with their teenagers. Drill Sergeant Parents believe that the more they discipline and control their teenagers, the better their children will turn out.

Teenagers of Drill Sergeant Parents never learn how to make their own decisions because their decisions are made for them in a demanding and sometimes very controlling manner. Punishment is often used for failure to follow expectations which, in teens, does not typically promote thoughtful reflection – it promotes resentment. Teenagers of Drill Sergeant Parents are not taught how to express themselves appropriately (because they are not given a chance) and never really learn about decision making or consequences for poor decisions because their parents control those aspects or their lives.

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Parenting Your Teen: Are You A Helicopter Parent

noreply@blogger.com (Elite Life Coaching) — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 07:00:00 +0000

Helicopter Parents

If you think about the role of a helicopter it is to hover, watch, protect and rescue. This is what “Helicopter Parents” do with their teenagers. On the surface Helicopter Parents appear to be very involved and supportive of their teenagers, however, what ends up happening is that they do so much for their teenager that their teenagers don’t get to experience real life, worry, pain or consequences because their parents are jumping in and protecting them when difficult situations arise.

Helicopter Parents are very afraid of their children failing so they rescue them out of worry, guilt or because they want to be needed by their children. These parents are genuinely concerned and love their children, however, they prevent their children from becoming responsible because they are always there as a safety net. Parents who continue to drive their teenagers to school when they repeatedly wake up late and miss the bus or who continue to give their teenagers extra money when they overspend their allowance or money from a part time job are considered Helicopter Parents.

The teens of these parents never learn what it is like to have to make up for their mistakes or experience discomfort because they made poor decisions. The bigger problem arises when the “helicopter” is no longer in their lives and all of the sudden they are adults who have no concept of what it means to be truly responsible for themselves.

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Is Your Teen Embarrassed By You?

noreply@blogger.com (Elite Life Coaching) — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 07:00:00 +0000

Many parents feel hurt because their teens, who used to idolize them and want to be around them, now do everything they can to avoid being sen by their parents. As many know, this is a normal teenage behavior and is developmental - meaning that most teenagers grow out of this upon reaching adulthood if not before.

The following are a few helpful tips for parents who are feeling like their teenager is embarrassed of them:

1. Don’t take it personally. It is a phase that teens go through and the majority of children begin seeking the companionship of their parents again in their early to mid 20’s. Many adult children consider their parents their best friends.

2. Don’t try to explain yourself or prove yourself as “cool”. It is not worth it and remember – it is likely not about anything specific you are doing. Not trying to justify yourself will save you from further frustration.

3. Check to make sure you are not actually doing anything embarrassing to your teenager – especially in front of friends. If you find that you are (telling stories about them, babying them in front of friends, etc) you may want to think about changing what you are doing. Even though it is likely harmless, remember that teenagers are extremely sensitive and insecure and can be devastated by such situations.

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5 FINAL Tips for Reducing Arguing With Your Teenager

noreply@blogger.com (Elite Life Coaching) — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 07:00:00 +0000

1. Remain sitting if at all possible when your teen is arguing with you – this will help them feel less threatened and view you as being calmer which may work to help them calm down as well.

2. Try not to take things personally. Often teens will say hurtful and mean things to parents which is not acceptable or okay in my opinion. Despite this, it is important that parents do not respond out of emotion. It is more helpful for parents to let their teen know how their words impacted them and that it is not acceptable during a non-emotional time rather than to try to tackle this issue when your teen is already upset and not listening to you. Using tip 10 can be effective at this point in an argument.

3. Validate your teenager even if you don’t agree with everything they are saying. Having your teen feel heard is often more important than having them feel like you agree with what they are saying.

4. Do your best to communicate with your teenager during non-confrontational times. Having regular communication (perhaps at family dinners) will help them communicate effectively with you ongoing so that you are not only communicating during emotional times.
5. Pick your battles. Your teenager will test you with what they wear, their music and subjects they bring up just to name a few. Be thoughtful about the battles you want to fight and know that much of the time they are just testing the waters and trying to figure out who they are which will pass in a short period of time.

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5 More Tips To Reduce Arguing With Your Teen

noreply@blogger.com (Elite Life Coaching) — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 07:00:00 +0000

Below are 5 additional tips to reduce arguing with your teenger:

1. Offer choices whenever possible and allow compromises when possible.

2. Accept that your teenager is not going to talk to you about everything. Pushing them to talk about topics which are uncomfortable or upsetting will often result in their lashing out at you. Obviously if you are concerned about their safety you will need to push them, however, if your interest in a certain topic is more out of curiosity, sometimes it is better to just leave the topic alone than to argue with them about it.
3. Regardless of how loud your teen is yelling, keep your voice low. Your teen will have to lower their own voice to hear you and in addition, just speaking softly can lower the tension in the room.

4. Try to use “I” statements rather than blaming statements. For example, you may say, “I get really worried about you when you don’t come home for your curfew” instead of “You keep messing up by coming in late for your curfew”. In both situations, you are letting them know it is unacceptable but it is harder for them to argue the “I” statement which is less blaming.

5. If your teenager is getting really out of control, tell them that you are ending the conversation for 10 minutes until everyone calms down some and then you will be willing to revisit the conversation (this may mean you need to go into the bathroom or go for a drive to allow for this break and to physically move from the situation).

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5 Tips Reduce Arguing With Your Teenager

noreply@blogger.com (Elite Life Coaching) — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 07:00:00 +0000

For many parents of teenagers, the frequent conflict and arguing can be overwhelming. Below are some tips that can significantly reduce overall arguing with your teenager.

Tips For Parents To Minimize Arguing:

1. Allow everyone to have a fair opportunity to say what they would like to say. Don’t just keep talking and repeating the same thing over and over without giving your teenager an opportunity to express their thoughts or how they feel.

2. Do your best not to interrupt when your teen is speaking their mind – this will increase the chances that they will listen while you speak.

3. Let your teenager know that you cannot speak to them when they are yelling and respond effectively when they stop yelling. Praise them during times when they are able to express themselves effectively.

4. Do your best to stick to the point and not bring up the past, other situations or bring others into the conversation unless it directly relates to them.
5. During arguments, never “put down” or make fun of your teenager.

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Eating Disorders: Signs and Symptoms In Teens

noreply@blogger.com (Elite Life Coaching) — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 07:00:00 +0000

As a parent it is helpful to know some of the actual Signs and Symptoms of and Eating Disorder which include (this list is not meant to be inclusive):

1. Abnormal weight loss of 25% or more without any medical explanation

2. A noticeable reduction in food intake and /or a denial of hunger

3. Prolonged exercise despite exhaustion, fatigue or weakness

4. Intense fears about gaining weight

5. Purging after meals

6. Binging sometimes and then restricting food significantly at other times

7. Unusual patterns of handling food or eating food

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Teenage Tips For Safety On The Internet And With Social Media

noreply@blogger.com (Elite Life Coaching) — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 07:00:00 +0000

As we all know, technology is a wonderful thing but can also be dangerous when users are not informed. As a parent, it is critical that you offer your teenager education on the dangers associated with using technology. Below are some tips for parents of teenagers:
1. Educate your teen about the permanency of their messages and photos. Make sure your teenagers know that their messages never go away (even when deleted) and that they can come back and haunt them in the near or distant future so that they are more likely to think about what they are sending before actually sending it. Make sure that they are aware that messages can be forwarded to many, many people and remind them not to say anything that could come back to haunt them. Photos can also be cut and pasted from your teen's site and used on other site that individuals create.

2. Remind your teen to not open links or attachments unless they know who they are from. Often times these contain pornographic photos or content or could generate junk emails or inappropriate emails to their account.
3. Randomly check who your teen is communicating with. In most instances, parents have purchased or are paying for their teenager’s computers or phones so they absolutely have a right to be checking them. At least 1/3 of teens report that their parent would not approve of all that they are doing online. If they are using their computer or phone inappropriately then, as the parent, you should take it away until they can adhere to your expectations.

4. Put your computer in a public place if possible. Doing this will automatically increase your ability to supervise your teenagers email and IM activity.

5. Set clear expectations and follow through. Be very clear with your teenager about what they can and cannot do with their computer and/or phone and about what your oversight will be. They may tell you that you don’t understand and that nobody else has restrictions on their computer use, however, you have every right to set up clear rules and guidelines for your teenager. Some parents restrict use until homework is done, take away certain features if grades fall (i.e. no text messaging on their phone) or set expectations that their teenager not erase any history on their phone or computer so that it can be checked regularly.

6. Educate your teenager about not sharing personal information with people they do not know. Make sure your teen knows never to share their address or detailed information about themselves with people they do not know. In addition, make sure they do not share any information related to your finances, banking information, etc. which could result in identify theft.
7. Let them know you are there. Let your teenager know that they can come to you if they are worried or have questions about anything. Many times teens won’t seek support and will get themselves into more trouble because they are afraid to let someone know what is happening. Reminding them that you are there to help and support them may make a difference should a time arise when they are scared or worried and really need your support.

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Communication: Using "Active Listening" With Your Teenager

noreply@blogger.com (Elite Life Coaching) — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 07:00:00 +0000

Using Active Listening with them will increase the chances they will use it with you! By actively listening you are letting your teenager know that you are interested in what they have to say and that they are important. In order to do this, you should stop doing anything else that you are doing and focus on your teenager. You should really listen to what they are saying and not be thinking about your response to them or thinking about what is for dinner. They will know the difference and will know when you have truly turned into what they are saying. By modeling this skill for them they will feel important and may also learn how to use active listening themselves.

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Improve Communication With "Door Openers"

noreply@blogger.com (Elite Life Coaching) — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 16:46:00 +0000

“Door Openers" versus“Door Slammers”: Door Openers are phrases and words which are open ended and allow your teenager to share their thoughts and feelings on a subject. For example: “Do you want to talk about it?”, “What do you think about this?”, “I think you may be able to help us out with this, what are your ideas?” These phrases let your teen know you value what they think and does not send them the message that you are trying to control them. Door Slammers are phrases and words that shut down conversations and make teenagers feel powerless or unimportant. For example: “That is none of your business”, “I don’t care what your friends are able to do”, “Don’t come crying to me when you mess this up”, “We are not going to talk about this again”. These phrases and words generally come out during times of frustration (and are very normal so don’t feel bad if you have used them) but generally create more tension and frustration for teens who are already feeling confused and powerless in their lives.
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Things That May Push Your Teenager Away

noreply@blogger.com (Elite Life Coaching) — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 07:00:00 +0000

While there is no right or wrong way to parent, there are some things that parents do that tend to push their teens away. These include:

1. Yelling and Screaming. This is often a natural reaction to situations your teenager may create, however, is generally not helpful and can quickly cause them to view you as the “bad guy” and resent you.

2. Saying you were right and they were wrong. Teens typically respond very poorly to this type of comment or lecture. As a parent, there will be many situations where you tell your teen what to do and they will chose not to listen to you which resulted in a negative outcome. This is normal and it is important that you try to trust that they will learn from thier mistakes more than they will from having you remind them that they were wrong.

3. Giving extreme consequences. Teenagers will become resentful if the consequences you give them are extreme in an effort to make a point. For example, if Susie returns 30 minutes late with the car an extreme consequence may be that she cannot drive the car for 6 months. The point will get lost in the outrageousness of the consequence. When giving consequences to teenagers, the consequences should be meaningful and time limited.

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Nobody Wants To Hear "I Told You So"

noreply@blogger.com (Elite Life Coaching) — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 07:00:00 +0000

Nobody ever wants to hear this phrase and teenagers are no exception. As a parent, you will likely have many “I told you so” moments. You will offer advice to your teenager, they will refuse your advice and then down the road the exact thing you predicted would happen...happens. It will be extremely tempting to use these situations as an opportunity to tell your teenager that they should listen to you more because you were right. While all of that is true, it is better to allow your teenager an opportunity to “save face” and not feel ashamed by the situation. They will know that your advice would have been worth taking but will likely never tell you this. Getting into a power struggle about who was right and who was wrong will likely only create resentment in your teenager. As a parent, you can continue to offer your suggestions and hope that over time your teenager will see that you do have something worthwhile to offer them!

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Don't Act Out Of Strong Emotion

noreply@blogger.com (Elite Life Coaching) — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 07:00:00 +0000

This can be extremely difficult when your teenager pushes your buttons or makes a decision which is harmful or highly inappropriate. As a parent who cares deeply about their child, of course you are going to be emotional (angry, scared, disappointed, frustrated) when these things happen which is normal and not a problem at all. What does sometimes become a problem is when parents act out of these strong emotions. In these situations parents often times say things that they later regret, however, even with an apology, their teen who already has insecure and fragile self esteem will hang onto the emotional response which can damage the parent – teen relationship. It is better to take time to calm down, gather your thoughts (even write them down so that you remain on track when speaking with your teenager) and then speak with your teenager about the situation.

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Teenage Sexual Exploitation (Prostitution)

noreply@blogger.com (Elite Life Coaching) — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 07:00:00 +0000

Although exact numbers are not clear, it is estimated that there are more than 300,000 teenagers in the United States who are being exploited through prostitution. Many believe these numbers are much higher. The average age at which a girl enters prostitution is 14 years old – this age appears to be dropping and there have been reports of girls as young as age 6 being exploited through prostitution. There is not one single factor which makes a teenage girl vulnerable to be recruited into the life of prostitution, however, there are certain factors which are believed to increase one’s risk. These include: coming from a broken home, a history of abuse, having a mother who is promiscuous, poor relationship with parents, truancy and a history of running away which is the biggest factor which can lead to one becoming sexually exploited. Two thirds of girls who run away are exploited by prostitution and girls who run away are likely to be approached by a pimp within forty eight hours of being on the run.

The best way to help young girls at risk is through education and prevention. Parents should talk to their girls about what to do if someone approaches them and tries to befriend them through gifts and excessive compliments. Parents should also notice if their daughter seems to be bringing home a lot of new clothes, gifts or jewelry. Don’t ignore this – be persistent in finding out where the items are coming from. Finally, if you have a daughter who is running away, she is at the most risk. It is important to talk to her if you are able and if not, to find someone who can.

In short, low self esteem combined with a lack of guidance and support from adults makes girls vulnerable to being recruited into the life of prostitution.
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Teenage Boys - Why Do They Pull Away

noreply@blogger.com (Elite Life Coaching) — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 07:00:00 +0000

Do you lack communication with your male teenager? Do you feel like they live in their room and you hardly see them let alone know anything that is going on in their life? Are they constantly out with friends yet you have no idea who these friend are, who their families are or what they do when they spend time together? Do they decline your offers to spend time doing family things? If any or all of these scenarios apply to your son, you have a pretty typical teenage boy.

The first and strongest reason for boys behaving in this way is that they are working towards achieving independence and in order to do this, they need to separate from you, who they have depended on for so many years of their life. They do not know how to do this thoughtfully or gracefully (or may not even really realize they are doing it) so they just isolate from you as a way of not feeling so dependent on you.
Secondly, it is normal for boys to be embarrassed about changes going on as their bodies mature. Boys also experience an increase in sexualized feelings which can be overwhelming and not something they want to discuss with their parents.
Finally, it is very normal during adolescence for friends to become more important than parents or other family members. This is not a negative reflection on the family but rather a shift from seeing the family as the center of the world to really wanting to discover the larger world that is out there as a way of establishing independence.

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Emotional Dysregulation In Teenage Girls

noreply@blogger.com (Elite Life Coaching) — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 07:00:00 +0000

Emotional dysregulation takes place when the response of an individual does not appear to be “appropriate” for a particular situation. This often looks like an “over reaction” to a situation or a prolonged emotional response to a situation. Emotional dysregulation is not uncommon for adolescent girls and generally plays out in the safety of the home which results in you, as the parent, more often than not being on the receiving end of it.

Some techniques to try when your teenage daughter appears very emotional:

1. Validation: let your daughter know that you understand she is upset (even if you don’t understand why) and that you know it must be difficult for her to be that upset.
2. Remain calm: this can be very difficult – Speaking in an even, calm voice often results in the other person lowering their voice and calming down.

3. Take space: if you feel yourself ready to blow, there is no reason why you cannot take space for yourself.
4. Don’t feel you have to defend yourself: your teenage daughter may accuse you of things that are not true, say things that are hurtful or exaggerate situations. As the parent, you do not need to help them rationalize these things during an emotional moment. If you feel it is important to explain yourself (and often times it is not) then it is better to wait and do this during a time when emotions are under control.

5. Teach your daughter calming techniques during non emotional times: it is often helpful for parents to talk to their daughters about ways of remaining calmer during times when things are going well.

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Take Time For Family

noreply@blogger.com (Elite Life Coaching) — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 09:00:00 +0000

Some families find themselves so busy during the school year that week after week goes by and they can't even remember really spending any quality time together. Some of my clients have found it helpful to schedule in a night out of the week as "family night". This could be a Friday night or if possible, even a weekday night. On this night, families identify something they will do together as a family that is somewhat different than their typical routine. Maybe a "make your own pizza night" or some other special cooking night where all family members pitch in and cook as a team. Maybe a game night or a night where there is a TV show on that everyone enjoys. An hour or two weekly doing something special as a family can help keep everyone connected and can also help create a special tradition that your teens will always remember.

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Encourage Your Teen's Learning

noreply@blogger.com (Elite Life Coaching) — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 09:00:00 +0000

Although you likely have multiple things on your "To Do" list at any given time, taking a few minutes on a regular basis to express interest in your teen's school work can go a long way. Although they may not want to talk to you much about it, by asking what they are learing about and praising their studying, you are reinforcing their study skills. Even though they rarely say it, teens want approval from their parents and by your showing interest in and praising thier school work, you are reinforcing their committment to continue to apply themselves ongoing.

Go to Elite Life Coaching at http://www.elite-life-coaching.com/ for additional parenting resources, to sign up for our newsletter and to get information on our coaching packages and specials!