Parenting a Troubled Teen: Essential Teen Parenting Tips for Worried Parents

Parenting a troubled teen ...

... can be trying for the most enlightened parent, but imagine how scary it is for the child. During the teen years, a child may feel like the world is crumbling around him. Everything is changing: his body, hormones, emotions, mindset, worldview and others' expectations of him. This is an extremely stressful transition for some teens. As we know, people react to stress in various ways: by withdrawing and shutting down, getting angry, acting out or attempting to anesthetize their pain with alcohol and drugs.

Although parenting a troubled teen may feel at times like pursuing a relationship with someone who can't stand the sight of you, this is a period in your child's life when he needs you most. Below are some tips for helping an already trouble teen through one of the most difficult transitions of his life.

Three Tips for Parenting a Troubled Teen

• Troubled teens feel disconnected from themselves, their families and society. This can be a symptom of earlier family dysfunction: for some reason, there is a disconnect between parent and child. Although you may regret the way you parented your child during his early years, it is never too late to create a strong connection with your child. Of course, it is easier to forge and grow connections with your child when he is little. Doing it now, will take greater tolerance and commitment on your part. Do it now. Commit to creating a strong connection with your teen, even though you may be rejected.
  
  

  
  
  

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  Parenting a troubled teen involves creating strong connections. It is never to late to connect with your teen.

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• Connect to your troubled teen through the vehicle of his passion. What is your child interested in? Does he love music or sports? Find a way to engage him through the things he loves in life. This doesn't just mean buying him tickets to a concert, so he can go with his friends. Connection is about "being there," not sending your child away. Start by taking him to a music store, buying him a CD and going home and listening to it together. When I say "listen," I mean sharing fully in the experience. Try to discover what it is about this music that speaks to your teen. In this way, you connect to him through what he loves, through those things, ideas and experiences that lift and enervate his soul. This is deep stuff. Connections always are.
  
  

• Set aside your ego and your need for adult authority. Your teen, though troubled and misguided, is on his way to becoming your peer. Treat him with respect. Although he is not yet sophisticated in the workings of the world, he is taking the first step, struggling to know himself and find his place in the world. Help him, guide him, be open. Have compassion. Be there. When you use your power as an adult, wield it wisely and only in the best interests of your child. If your teen is acting in ways that endanger himself or others, seek the help of a qualified professional. Don't hand your child over and make him someone else's problem, rather, engage him in the journey of transformation from a "green" caterpillar into a butterfly of an adult.

If your teen is troubled, he or she may be depressed. Fight depression by giving your teen MindSoothe Jr which supports feel-good neurotransmitters in the brain. By nourishing the brain, you promote calm, a reasonable attitude and the ability to deal with moods and feelings. This is a holistic, all-natural product that many parents have recommended to us.

About the author: Laura Ramirez is the author of the award-winning book, Keepers of the Children: Native American Wisdom and Parenting . The book shows parents how to raise children to develop their natural strengths and grow up to lead uniquely purposeful and fulfilling lives.

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Parenting a Troubled Teen - Teen Parenting

Parenting