Parent Network

If you are wondering about raising a teenage daughter then I think I can help you. Raising a teenage daughter can be hard at the best of times and is one of the true tests of becoming an adult yourself and your self discipline. I applied some timeless principles of relationships and now my daughter and I get on like a house on fire whenever we meet. Here are some of my top tips for those raising a teenage daughter.

Listen Openly – You have to listen openly to your teenage daughter. She will have trouble telling you things if you are always judgmental and closed minded. When she is talking or trying to tell you something try and see it as if you were in her position. Remember how hard it was being a teenager? All those social pressures and bodily changes. Also, when she is talking, try and keep your mind focused on what she is saying even if it is hard.

Try your best not to be preparing your response as you cannot truly hear what the other person is saying through your mental noise.

Give Honest Appreciation – Everyone wants to be loved and especially teenagers. When they are going through these tough times all they want to know is that people are there that love them unconditionally. It sounds cheesy but it is true. Honestly appreciate things about her whenever you can. You will never get this day again to see your teenage daughter grow up. Pick something, anything each and every day.

Recognise they are becoming adults – When your teenage daughter is growing, you have to recognize that she is becoming an adult now and it is sometimes hard to admit this. She may want things like more independence and this is a natural thing.  Read more... (322 words, 1 image, estimated 1:17 mins reading time)

POSITIVE TEENAGE PARENTING

Traditional teen parenting has embraced the belief that teen years are turbulent and stormy, and as a result parents have had a negative vision and expectation of these years, and inadvertently have developed a corresponding negative vocabulary. Negative vocabulary only enhances and reinforces negative behavior. Negative means will always produce negative ends.

Sure enough, certain changes take place in their bodies, minds and emotions, as they make a transition into young adulthood. Their bodies start producing and infecting into their bloodstream new hormones, and their moods begin to swing. But this does not necessarily make them bad kids; intrinsically they remain good people, and this is the message and affirmation they want communicated to them.

Just as negative means will produce negative results, so will positive means lead to positive results.

That is why it is crucially important for parents to develop a positive vision and an accompanying positive vocabulary. Anybody likes and thrives in a positive environment.

Parents need to parent their teenagers from their strengths, rather than always be criticizing and complaining about their shortcomings. They need to keep a perspective on their teenagers infractions too, don’t fuss too much about minor imperfections. In order to parent from your child’s strengths, find one or several things that they enjoy doing and seem to have a natural talent at, and nurture these strengths. Do not try to make them do what you wished you could have become. Let them be their true self and find their true talent and let them be and do what they were born to do. Support their choices that are in line with their strengths.  Read more... (612 words, 1 image, estimated 2:27 mins reading time)

If you are looking for information on raising teenage sons then you have come to the right place. Parenthood is a beautiful thing but when they get to the teenage years they can be difficult to handle. I have successfully raised 2 teenage sons into fully grown men and taught them discipline. Here are my top tips on raising teenage sons.

Stick to your rules – You have to pick your rules and stick to them. When I talk to parents they will say “I set out the rules but they just ignore them”. Almost every single time it is because the parents do not follow through on punishments. No internet for a week literally has to mean no tv for a week otherwise what message are you sending your teenage sons. “I am making rules which you can break”.

Be Open Minded – Even though you are creating rules which your teenagers will have to obey, you must be open minded to changing those rules to suit the both of you.

Go for win-win situations in which you both get something out of it. For example, do not say “Tidy your room because I told you so” instead be a genius and say “We’ll go bowling today if you tidy your room”. See the difference?

Master Persuasion – Persuasion is not getting inside peoples minds and making them change. It is showing them what they want from a point of view you both understand. Your teenage son might be distressed at the idea of cleaning the dishes but tell him that “Men who can establish routine go far in life. By starting small routines you can master all areas of your life and this is how your favourite band got started on the same principles”. Relate everything to things they enjoy and persuasion will be simple.