Parent of a Teen?
That Likely Means You’re Worried … Parents of teens are in the heart of the “worry” years when it comes to raising a child. Your teen is making a push for independence, and with it doing more activities on their own and with friends—and confiding in you less than ever. While this need for independence is natural and good for your child (you, too, went through this same phase when you were a teen), it’s tough on parents, who can’t help but worry—and perhaps over-worry—about their child’s safety. While teens are often in angst over fitting in at school, dating and transitioning from being a child to a responsible adult, parents worry about the many risks facing teens, and making sure their teen is aware of those risks. Among them are auto accidents:the leading cause of death for teens aged 15 to 20. Due to inexperience behind the wheel, driving too fast, having too many passengers in the car, and alcohol, auto accidents kill more than 3,600 teens each year. There’s also drug and alcohol abuse. A 2004 survey by the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics of high school seniors found that: - 70.6% reported having used alcohol within the last 12 months
- 45.7% reported having used marijuana/hashish
- 8.1% reported having used cocaine
- 1.5% reported having used heroin
And, nationwide, 15% of kids 12 and older reported use of a drug within the past year. How to Parent Teens Effectively, But Without Fear Given the facts, it’s understandable that parents worry. But much of the fear that parents feel about their teens can be relieved by using the scientifically proven Sedona Method — an easy-to-learn, do-it-yourself system that will show you how to tap your natural ability to let go of any unwanted feeling, including all forms of anxiety and fear, on the spot. So while you will still be able to effectively parent your teen, you will be able to do so without any of the fear and worry, which ultimately means you’ll be a more confident, relaxed and approachable parent. The Sedona Method works by helping you to easily break the patterns of thought that cause worry to surface. Doubts and worry make us defensive, but as you release your defensiveness, you’ll be able to see solutions of how to parent your teen, instead of the problems a teenager can bring. This will help both of you, because you will lose that feeling of stress and anxiety that comes with worry while still parenting your teen. Finally, all parents can use the following tips to make coping with the teenage years easier on both yourselves and your teen: - Choose your battles. Not every fight is worth it. Save your arguments for things that put your teen’s safety or health at risk, not how long their hair is.
- Get to know their friends. This will help you put your mind at ease about who your teen is hanging out with, and will make your teen feel like you’re accepting their choices.
- Give your teen some independence. It’s essential for teens to develop their own identity during this time. So leave room for them to grow, while maintaining control by having them check in with you regularly.
- Discuss risks with your teen AND what to do about them. Along with telling your kids the risks of alcohol, drugs, reckless driving, etc., give them options to stay safe. For instance, if their ride has been drinking, tell your teen to call you to pick him or her up, and never get in a car with someone who’s been drinking.
- Be a positive role model. Though it may not seem like it at times, your teen is watching you and will mimic your behaviors. Set a good example and be open when your teen needs to talk.
Sources:
CBS News
Bureau of Justice Statistics
WebMD
Get Ready for a Breakthrough.
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