Adopted Teen Troubles (12-31-2010)

PODCAST SCRIPT:

Adopted teens sometimes struggle more during the teen years than their non-adopted peers.

When an adopted teen wrestles with the who or why of their adoption, adolescence can turn into an emotionally super-charged time of life. Even though their struggles surround issues unique to their adoption, the right approach by the adoptive parents can make all the difference. They can help the child deal with his questions appropriately, or send him off the deep end of frustration.

So, treat your adopted child’s struggles in the teen years as openly and as honestly as possible.  It is usually only for a short time. And in their anger and rejection, keep the mindset that “It’s not about you,” because it really isn’t.

———————————————————-

STILL TIME TO GIVE A 2010 TAX-DEDUCTIBLE GIFT (until midnight tonight):  Help make possible these daily emails, our free e-books and materials, the radio program heard on over 2,500 radio stations daily, and our seminars and conferences for parents. A link to give securely online is below. Thank you for your gift of any amount.

Give a Tax-Deductible Gift

Don’t Disengage (12-30-2010)

STILL TIME TO GIVE A 2010 TAX-DEDUCTIBLE GIFT (until midnight 12/31/10):  Help make possible these daily emails, our free e-books and materials, the radio program heard on over 2,500 radio stations daily, and our seminars and conferences for parents. A link to give securely online is below. Thank you for your gift.

https://npo.networkforgood.org/Donate/Donate.aspx?npoSubscriptionId=6396

PODCAST SCRIPT:

In the teen years, the family can all too easily drift apart.

The teen years are a tempting time of life for parents to unintentionally disengage from their teenager. Parents are at the peak of their careers and the teen has friends and activities to keep them busy, so everyone tends to drift apart.

But this may be the most important time for parents to stay engaged! Teens need to feel a connection with their parents, even if they don’t express that need – even if they act like they can’t stand being around them!

If you’ve drifted apart, make an extra effort to reconnect with your teenager. Time with you, one-on-one, should be the most protected time of the week.

Don’t Quit (12-29-2010)

PODCAST SCRIPT:

Struggling with a difficult teen can bring a parent a lot of grief.  Sometimes it is easier to give in to a teen’s demands, letting them do whatever they want to do. But let me encourage you…don’t quit!

Don’t quit, when your teen is angry and says he hates you.

Don’t quit, when the stress at home seems more than you can bear.

Don’t quit, when your teen breaks the rules and it’s your duty to enforce consequences.

What I mean is this, don’t give up your parental responsibilities, even when it gets tough. Most teen struggles are for a short time. So hang in there, no matter how difficult. For the rest of your life, you’ll be glad you did.

—————————————————–

READER/LISTENER COMMENTS…

This is to express our heartfelt thanks to you for sending the daily notes, podcasts on how to bring up your teen. I eagerly read your posts. They have been a great help in bringing up my teen daughter, though we still struggle and are learning. All I can say is a big thank you for your labour of love. There are lots of teens in India who need what you teach too. –P.R., Gurgaon, India

Our teens definitely need this help to turn them around! Can you bring your therapeutic program here please? I guarantee you there will be overwhelming response, with the many troubled teens growing by the day! –A.L., Singapore

THANK YOU for your daily thoughts and encouragement! You are doing alot to keep houses peaceful. We are very grateful for your ministry!  –P.M., Long Island, New York

Nothing Off Limits (12-28-2010)

PODCAST SCRIPT:

One sure way to build a wall between you and your teen is to send the message that some subjects are off limits with you.

Some parents can be so protective that they send the wrong message to their teenager –- one that says, “I won’t talk about that subject, and neither should you.”

Maybe the topic makes the parent feel uncomfortable or they don’t want to appear to condone it by talking about it. But nothing should be off limits with teenagers, who are questioning everything at this age.

The best way to prevent walls from building up is to let your teen know that you are there to discuss any subject with them, no matter what it is.

Parent Heroes (12-27-2010)

PODCAST SCRIPT:

In my counseling of teens, the most often wished-for thing by teenage girls is this, “I want more time with my dad.”

Dads are heroes when their girls are little; but during the teen years, dads can move from hero status to feeling more like a big zero.

Even so, you can never spend enough time with your teen.  They want time together, even when they act like they don’t.  Make the effort to have a weekly outing where you can have fun together and just listen.

They may not say it right now, but they will always remember you as the their unsung hero, the one who was there for them even when they didn’t want you to be.

WEEKEND: Christmas As A Family (12-25-2010)

HALF-HOUR PODCAST SUMMARY:

If your teen is struggling, you know that Christmastime can be a very tense season.  On this edition of Parenting Today’s Teens, Mark Gregston gives counsel to families who find that slowing down to enjoy the holidays brings more pain than joy.

———————————————————-

YEAR END TAX-DEDUCTIBLE GIFT:  We thank you in advance for your support our efforts to help parents and teens, including these daily emails, our free e-books and materials, the radio program heard on over 2,500 radio stations daily, and our seminars and conferences for parents. A link to give securely online is below. Thank you for your support.

Give a Tax-Deductible Gift

Teen Maturity from a Job (12-24-2010)

PODCAST SCRIPT:

Teenagers don’t become responsible or learn to think more maturely by accident.

Teens learn from being in situations where responsibility and maturity is expected and modeled. That’s why I highly recommend to parents that they get their child into a part-time job throughout the teen years, and particularly one that is service-oriented.

Outside of what mom and dad are expecting of them, nothing can teach a teenager about life and making a livelihood than a job can, whether they need the money or not.

The right job for just a few hours each week can be a perfect training ground for a teenager, teaching people-skills, money-management, time-management, and even helping the teenager determine what she does or doesn’t want to do after high school.

Meet Weekly With Your Teen (12-23-2010)

PODCAST SCRIPT:

It’s important to not slack off in your parenting role when school activities and friends seem to keep your teenager busy all the time.

Proverbs 4:1 says, “Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction;  pay attention, and gain understanding.”

A parent’s role is to instruct their children to successfully run life’s race.  But some parents give up their teaching role too soon in the teen years.

When your teenager is extra busy, it’s easy to allow days and weeks to go by without having a good discussion.  But your teen needs your time and guidance – your wisdom – now, more than ever, even if they don’t seem to want it.  So, make a habit of getting together weekly, no matter what.

Teaching Your Teen (12-22-2010)

PODCAST SCRIPT:

There seems to be a lot of confusion over what schools are to teach our kids these days.

Kids learn reading, writing and arithmetic in school, but character is learned from their parents.

For instance, schools offer self-improvement, but parents teach self-respect and how to respect others.

Schools award achievement, but parents teach that the greatest achievement in life is to serve others.

And schools teach free thinking, but parents teach self-control.

The bottom line is this…schools can offer success on tests – but parents teach their kids how to be successful in life.  So, don’t leave character building to your child’s school, it’s a task that should be left to no one else but you.

Arguing Teens (12-21-2010)

PODCAST SCRIPT:

I’ve learned that anything can be argued about, and in some homes, arguments pop up about everything.

Since some teens are bent on arguing, the best way to stop arguments is to simply find a way to agree with your teen’s feelings, though you may not agree with their point of view.  For example, “I can see you’ve really thought about this,” or, “I can see why you might think that way.” When you honor and hear their feelings on the subject it throws a wet blanket on the flames of their argument.

And if there are too many arguments in your home, it could be that there are also too many rules. So periodically review your rules to ensure they are appropriate to your teenager’s age and maturity.