BUMPY RIDE

Blurred candlelight

The teenage years are quite possibly the most difficult time for parents. A time when teenagers battle a combination of hormones, physical changes, and a brain not yet capable of grasping the concepts needed for survival in the adult world. A time when they deal with social stereotypes and their independence. But boys are seemingly more of a challenge.

It’s often hard to decipher the minds of teenagers. The mixed messages they send us. When they say one thing but come to find out they meant something completely the opposite. And then their frustration at our not being able to understand anything about them.

As we venture into these tumultuous teenage years, we need to remember to put on our seatbelts. The ones which make possible for us to regulate our emotions when our teens do something they know they should not be doing.

Their indifference, disregard, and what seems like outright rebellion will feel like a bumpy ride through hell. But patience is needed. A lot of patience as we wait out those difficult years.

When we’re frustrated and out of options, we need to remember that they are looking at us as an example of how to behave in similar circumstances in the future. But also remember that they still crave closeness. They need to know that we love them no matter what.