Self Help

Raising children in today’s world is not an easy task, and this is especially true when they become teenagers. And your number one job as a parent is to communicate effectively to your son your daughter the best you can.

Of course you may go through some very rough times as they are getting through their teenage years trying to find their way, but this is the most important time of their lives, also the most confusing, and they need you.

It’s been said that raising a teenager is a lot like being an Air Traffic Controller and some of the rules below could apply to both situations:

1. Keeping the airplane (your teen) on the radar screen at all times is vital. You cannot lose track of the direction in which your child is moving in. You do not want to be overbearing to the point of them running from you, but at the same time you want to make sure you are keeping good tabs on their social life, their academics, and their behavioral patterns.

2. If something is wrong with the airplane (your teen), then it is your duty to bring the flight in to fix the problem. If your son or daughter appears to be having problems, you must know how to communicate well with them so that they will realize that they can always go to mom and dad whenever they have problems.

3. When the plane (your teen) hits turbulence and things get rough, you cannot leave your post just because you do not like the situation. If there is a major problem and the issue is giving both you and your child a rough time, your duty as a parent is to stick it out and be there for them, regardless of the pain you may be going through to help.

4. The biggest danger you have to face is losing communication with the airplane (your teen) on your radar screen. In other words, in addition to doing all you can to keep communication open with your teen, you must also do everything possible to re-establish that communication should it become lost.