Thanks for replying! I just feel so overwhelmed sometimes and it feels like all the things I tried so hard to teach them when they were younger is just no longer with them!! Especially my 19 year old daugher (who turns 20 this week). She is just out of control and it seems all we do lately is fight. I just can't communicate with her at all! Do you have daughters?? How old are your teens?
I have a 19 yo and 16 yo. Ah...nothing like parenting teens, huh! It always amazes me how the moms of three year olds all gather and talk constantly about the most trivial details of parenting preschoolers, yet it is harder to find a group of teen parents willing to gab endlessly about the major challenges of parenting teens. I'm here too for idea volley, for what it's worth.
My ideas:
take lots of deep breaths
always "be the parent" meaning, dont slip into childish arguing on their (teen) level, stay reasonable since she wont or cant be
don't ever give up, but realize it is soon her life, not yours to guide anymore, and she is responsible for it,
find others to influence her, she will listen to what almost anyone says more than you: her friends, family friends, random adults, random kids
who she spends time with is key, if there is anyway to moderate or modify that
that kid you always loved is still in there
The lives of teens today are terrifying--for them and for us.
When I get frustrated that I have lost touch with my oldest, my husband's theory is that my almost 20yrold will definitely be able to talk to me (really talk, and enjoy it) again someday. I'm waiting. Meanwhile, the four day Thanksgiving visit was long enough.
Comments
I know of a local group for single moms of teens, but not one just generally for teens ... we do have moms of teens on the site though :)
While we don't have a group, I am a Mom of a teen and I'm here for you to whine to, commiserate with or get reassurance!
Feel free to contact me!
Thanks for replying! I just feel so overwhelmed sometimes and it feels like all the things I tried so hard to teach them when they were younger is just no longer with them!! Especially my 19 year old daugher (who turns 20 this week). She is just out of control and it seems all we do lately is fight. I just can't communicate with her at all! Do you have daughters?? How old are your teens?
I have a 19 yo and 16 yo. Ah...nothing like parenting teens, huh! It always amazes me how the moms of three year olds all gather and talk constantly about the most trivial details of parenting preschoolers, yet it is harder to find a group of teen parents willing to gab endlessly about the major challenges of parenting teens. I'm here too for idea volley, for what it's worth.
My ideas:
take lots of deep breaths
always "be the parent" meaning, dont slip into childish arguing on their (teen) level, stay reasonable since she wont or cant be
don't ever give up, but realize it is soon her life, not yours to guide anymore, and she is responsible for it,
find others to influence her, she will listen to what almost anyone says more than you: her friends, family friends, random adults, random kids
who she spends time with is key, if there is anyway to moderate or modify that
that kid you always loved is still in there
The lives of teens today are terrifying--for them and for us.
When I get frustrated that I have lost touch with my oldest, my husband's theory is that my almost 20yrold will definitely be able to talk to me (really talk, and enjoy it) again someday. I'm waiting. Meanwhile, the four day Thanksgiving visit was long enough.