Don’t panic if your teen is getting a little explosive!

Are you, like many parents finding your teen angry & unpredictable?

Times are like no other, we are all struggling to cope. Teenagers are particularly impacted as their life blood, their peers are inaccessible! The result? Some pretty frustrated behaviour!! Go easy on them, as parents be prepared to let certain things go.

Possibly the best things I’ve learned the past few months (or heavens - is it almost a year?) - is this:

1. Be flexible - boundaries are essential of course; but even a good driver knows how to bend the rules when it’s necessary (there is a pandemic currently in action!).

2. Be interested in their world - they are likely to be lonely and craving connection. So ask about TikTok, FIFA, Spotify - whatever they have their head stuck into.

3. Value relationships over academic pursuits. Replace nagging about Math’s Teams assignments with a positive note of interest. I’ve trained myself (with a 75% success rate), to swallow the nag.

4. Never forget to be goofy with your teen - they can relate.
   

As these weeks drag on, things are taking a toll on us all differently. Young people, in many cases have the extra burden of not being used to, or able to, express their frustrations. So, what we see (like in my case, a hole in the wall) is an emotional expression of epic proportions. This could be verbally expressed, or dramatically suppressed, where they appear to withdraw from the household. It could be physically taken out on something or someone (a younger sibling perhaps) - all of the above have a common denominator. A need for emotional release. As worrying as it may be, try to connect before a reprimand bubbles up.

Ask yourself:

1. Are they eating well?

2. Are they sleeping?

3. How is the routine holding out?

4. What friends are they connecting with?

5. How are things going in this online school world?

6. Are they exercising?

7. What are they missing?

You never know - checking in on these simple basics might unearth a core frustration. You know what they say - ‘better out than in’.