Chaos, confusion and conflict. These
are the dimensions of a troubled teen's world. How do you
know if your teen is troubled or if he/she is just going
through normal adolescence? You can ask yourself the
following questions to get some insight:
1. Is your teen very secretive, evasive and unwilling to
share aspects of his/her personal life?
2. Does he/she display outbursts of anger that seem
irrational, unreasonable and unprovoked?
3. Is there a sudden change in his/her peer relationships
and are you unfamiliar with this new group?
4. Does he/she act out in school, get in trouble with police
or defy authority figures?
5. Has there been a change in grades or has your child lost
interest in activities once enjoyed?
6. Do you suspect drug/alcohol use based on his/her extreme
erratic behavior or bizarre appearance?
7. Is there noticeable weight gain or loss or changes in
eating habits?
A positive answer to any of these does not mean your child
is in trouble. However, if these signs and symptoms persist,
you may want to educate yourself about one or more of the
following disorders: depression, oppositional defiance,
eating disorders and mood disorders.
As the parent of a troubled teen, you need to be extremely
responsible and attentive. Do not let someone else teach
your child "the ropes," especially if it's someone who may
not have their best interest in mind. Familiarize yourself
with their language, the websites they frequent (My Space,
Face Book), so you can be alert to any negative influences
or even sites that may put them in danger.
Do not give up on them. Teens tend to test your patience
until they wear you out. Be aware that you are often
manipulated by their creative ways of getting what they
want. Teens really want your attention, whether positive or
negative, but they also need your guidance. You are always
the parent, but your approach should not alienate or shut
yourself out of your child's life. Speak to your teen in a
fair, but firm tone, while redefining the expectations and
consequences for breaching the rules. This will offer
consistency and structure and help them be responsible for
their actions, attitudes and emotions.
Amy Sherman, LMHC, is a licensed mental health counselor in
private practice. Amy is the author of the ebook,
"Distress-Free Aging: A Boomer's Guide to Creating a
Fulfilled and Purposeful Life." She specializes in issues
specific to the 40+ generation and is available for
telephone coaching, face-to-face therapy, teleseminars,
radio and TV interviews. For more information, go to
http://www.bummedoutboomer.com, sign up for her free
newsletter and receive a Special Report on Overcoming
Adversity. She can be reached by email at
amy@bummedoutboomer.com or by phone at 561) 281-2975.
A Healthy Breakfast
For Your Child
By
Carolyn Joana
Breakfast is usually the time
when you're busiest - what with packing your kids off to
school, looking after the house and rushing to work too.
Often moms give a ready-to-serve breakfast with sweet
cereals and cereal bars which do not have much of a
nutrition profile to boast of.
Read more...
Everything
Mom needs to know...
