Simple Guidelines for Difficult Discussions with Your Teenager

Years ago, your baby learned to crawl and entertain their self. You learned to stand back and watch carefully, allowing your child to make those wonderful new discoveries. You were right there to comfort your baby when they fell, just as you were ready to smack a curious hand when it reached for something dangerous, like an extension cord.

Now, that baby is grown. He or she has learned to walk and talk, and you can't get them to sit down and shut up. After all the hard work of teaching them to use the bathroom, now you wish you could keep them out of the bathroom for those lengthy periods. What's more, is you have to stand back yet again and let your child make their own discoveries... their own mistakes. You know there are lots of electrical cords out there for your child to grab, and your child's friends are likely to be holding those cords out. Even worse, peers whom your child wishes to be friends with. (i.e. the 'in crowd')

Though it can be stressful for you as a parent to know that such opportunities are going to be an option for your growing child, you really need to relax. Do you remember what life was like for you when you were their age? Does that thought only worry you more? Good! Then you should have a better understanding of what parents should and shouldn't do. More importantly, you should remember how no matter how many mistakes you made, you survived it all and became the wonderful, caring parent you are today.

It is your job now to set a positive example. This means having difficult conversations, regularly. It may make you uncomfortable. It will definitely make your child uncomfortable if not handled appropriately and it is very important to follow some guidelines when discussing Drugs, or Sex. You will be walking on eggshells from the beginning the moment you approach your teen with these topics, so do some research before you cause any permanent damage!