bringing up teens

OH YES!!!! I just got back from the DMV....now my teenager is on the road! No more Mr. taxi driver!!!! Now the new type of stress sets in....is she being safe? is she on that phone while driving?? Wait until you get to that one! I know what you mean about them being up one minute and down the next....there are so many new changes happening at that age.....lots of things on their mind. We have to eventually slowly let them do their own thing and just hope that they do the right things. We can only try to teach them....the rest is up to them Good Luck... They wont stay this age long... Tidwell

i have to agree and now my daughter is 16 and hasnt really changed from that attitude either. i find that she does what she wants and thinks that she is 24 and can do all this stuff. i sure wasnt like that when i was a teen!!

hello there! i can relate to you in the issue because I myself have a couple of them, quite tough really! sometimes i don't know when to be tough or be gentle as to handle each situation carefully but anyway, i believe its always different strokes for different folks. good luck friend!

Communication is key in all relationships. Always be open and honest. Never treat them like kids. Cuz I said so is never a good answer.Explain everything. It's time to start being their best friend instead of a bossy parent. Know that the closer they get to leaving home as an adult, the less they will agree with you regardless of who is right. Love them unconditionally. After they finally leave home and get on their own, they will return, one day, we love and understanding for you as well.

The trouble with parents is that they think that they are one hundred percent responsible for the way their children grow. Wrong. Leave them alone. Children are fully aware of their place in society and will stop at nothing to be there at the top. So the less you watch your kids the better it is. Your attitude gets converted into vibes and that is what puts them off. Today's kids are exposed to a lot of data that can help them lead healthy lives both in mind and body.

Yeah, tell me about it. I have a 13 year old and she is really unpredictable and uncooperative. All she wanted is to stay at home, watch tv and play computer. Doesn't want to study. Being the eldest daughter, I would often times tell her about responsibility but she doesn't listen. I tried talking and getting angry. Nothing happened. I just hope that one day, she'll realize her mistakes before it's too late. I can only do so much in terms of parenting. The rest is up to her.

Not that long ago i had 3 teens in my house. I thought it was horrible they were full of mood swings every day! You could never predict what mood they would be in from day to day. Seems teens are stuck in the between stage of wanting to be completely independent making thier own choices and the desire to revert back and have no responsibilities and just be a kid again. Very tough stage to go threw for the parent and the teen! I actually thought when i could get threw the teen stage life would get easier , calmer, less stress but actually give me a terrible teen any day of the week rather than a "i think i know it all 20 something" 20'somethings think the world is theirs and they are willing to take horrible risks just to break into this new world that they see as theirs! A time when they are searching to find that significant other to spend the rest of their lives with... often finding someone that could ruin thier lives if they dont think with reason rather than emotion. A 20something you can advice them but honestly they dont have to listen and are not mature enough to make life changing choices. Ughhhh does it get easier? I doubt it LOL

I have a teenage daughter of 14. She is a wonderful child. I do know what you mean, however, about the mood swings. My daughter's mood will change if she is making an interpretation about what I am saying to her. Her interpretations are usually not accurate. I have asked her to please stop adding meaning to what I am saying to her. Try to take what I am saying at face value. I have noticed that when I sense her getting distant, I am very quick to clean up the tension. She likes when I talk in my "nice voice" even if she has just finished communicating in her not-so-nice voice. Oh, and being not up to the mark, I do not even fully understand why texting is such a great thing. It is so much easier to just make a call. I don't quite understand this craze.