Parenting Information

Parenting Your Teenager: 4 Dangerous Myths


MYTH: All teens have to rebel, and the teen years will be miserable years for a family.

REALITY: Teens do have to separate from their parents and families. That's good - otherwise kids would be living at home when they are 35.

They do, however, have to earn the privilege of being in charge.

MYTH: Once teens rebel, you have lost them forever.

REALITY: This is the fear of every parent, but it doesn't happen in most cases. As the proverb says, "Raise up a child in the way they should go, and when they are old they will not depart from it."

Two very important factors are implied here:

1) At some point, it is likely they could "depart" from what you have taught, and

2) they will come back to it.

This notion is elaborated on in Miller Newton's book "Adolescence: Surviving the Perilous Journey." Miller calls this notion Withdrawal - Isolation - Re-emergence. His view is that all adolescents withdraw, and some will go so far as to isolate themselves. They will, however, re-emerge at some point. Part of the parents' job then is to maintain the connection so a relationship can exist when they re-emerge.

MYTH: Raising teens is easy if you do it right.

REALITY: If you listen to some so-called parenting experts, raising kids - even teens - is a walk in the park.

According to them, the only reason you are having difficulty is because you are doing it wrong (not like them, in other words).

The reality is that parenting is a labor-intensive task. In order to raise kids and teach moral character, you have to go against the prevailing culture.

MYTH: Your teen years were just like those of your teen-ager.

REALITY: Many of the character issues they are dealing with are very much like the ones you faced. But the world, atmosphere and culture in which they are dealing with these issues is incredibly different. Don't make the mistake of thinking it's all the same.

Leading parenting expert Jeff Herring is a teen and family therapist, parenting coach, speaker and syndicated parenting and relationship columnist. Jeff invites you to visit ParentingYourTeenager.com for 100's of tips and tools for parenting through the teenage years. You can also subscribe to his free weekly internet newsletter "ParentingYourTeenager."


MORE RESOURCES:

Media Mogul Tommy Mottola Finds New Star in EEBEE
MarketWatch - 44 minutes ago
We're confident that co-parenting this business with Tommy Mottola will bring us to the next level of success." "We are delighted to partner with EVERY BABY ...


WAVY-TV

Beach schools to hold parenting forum
WAVY-TV, VA - 2 hours ago
Parent Connection welcomes the first in a series of guest columnists who will offer insight, research, and commentary on all facets of parenting. ...


Learning Parenting 101: Better Late Than Never
Hartford Courant, United States - Dec 1, 2008
Welcome to Parenting 101, a two-part introduction to the fundamentals of effective child-rearing. Upon passing this course, which will conclude with next ...


Examiner.com

(ie San Francisco hiking, San Francisco parenting)
Examiner.com - 10 hours ago
by Justin Kemppainen, Minnesota Games Examiner Penny Arcade is just recently celebrating their tenth year of publication. They've done an incredible number ...


(ie San Francisco hiking, San Francisco parenting)
Examiner.com - 10 hours ago
by Ashia Sims, Atlanta Relationship Examiner Have you ever been in a relationship where things were very rosy? You spend a lot of time with each other. ...


(ie San Francisco hiking, San Francisco parenting)
Examiner.com - 10 hours ago
by Harmon Biehl, Miami Veterans Affairs Examiner Several articles ago I mentioned the length of time it takes for anything to get done with the VA Recently ...


Mothers welcomed to unique parenting support group
Curry County Reporter, OR - 2 hours ago
Gold Beach MOPS meetings are being held on the second Tuesday of every month from 7- 9 pm at the Hound Dog house, located at First Baptist Church of Gold ...


Even In Hard Economic Times, Noted Parenting Expert Urges Couples ...
PR Web (press release), WA - Dec 2, 2008
"Couples who decide to delay marriage and child-bearing, don't fully comprehend the ramifications of their actions," according to parenting expert and ...


ENERGYPARENTING(R) is the Antidote to the ADHD/Ritalin Epidemic
MarketWatch - Dec 2, 2008
It is a new way to parent that upends existing parenting models by transforming challenging children without the need for medication. ...


Obama victory encourages parenting advice
Great Dad, California - 15 hours ago
And yet he's still an excellent parent who finds time for his daughters," he told the news provider. In a speech in Chicago this past Father's Day, ...

Parenting - Google News

home | site map
© 2006