Happy Families – Part one
Bringing up a family can be a frightening business, and teenagers (I think) is the hardest part of raising a family.
Questions, questions and more questions, never a day goes by without some thought has to be put into problems created by most teens
Why aren’t they home?
Who are they with?
Why haven’t they called, so many why’s.
A teenager world is a dynamic, unpredictable place. The world around them is forever changing, so many rules, so growing up for teenagers and with their mood swings is a real challenge for them and the parents.
That’s why stringent parenting “techniques” just don’t always bring about the results we would like.
Every teenager keeps secrets, and if you’re like most parents, you worry about what your kids are not telling you–especially when they prefer text messages and social networking sites to face-to-face conversation.
I brought up five children, and really times haven’t changed since the 1970-80’s, just that a whole lot more is happening in the world now, even us adults have a job keeping up with it, no wonder teenagers are not coping very well.
The good news is that they are not teenagers forever and they do grow up to be a credit to your family.
Happy Parenting.
Bringing up Teen Children Which do you think is easier?
- Raising a Teen Boy
- Raising a Teen Girl
- Neither – they are just a hard as one or the other to raise.
Please Comment, love to have your thoughts about happy teenagers, it could be helpful for everyone involved with young adults.
Ramblings of a Writer 
They are as hard to raise as each other – though they do tend to have some different challenges as well as some the same.
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Smiles, you are right they do have different challenges.
I had two girls, three boys, I would sooner bring up boys to girls.
It will be interesting to see what other readers think.
Have a nice (wet be the weather forecast for us) weekend.
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It’s raining here now !
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In my case it was my daughter who was easier than my two boys, but they’ve grown into men I am proud of, but I love my grandson’s and granddaughters too!
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Yes, we do love our grandchildren, nearly all of mine have grown up now and I’m very proud of them.
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my youngest gd is four.
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I think the most important thing with teenagers is to keep communicating. So often what they would tell me would make my hair stand on end, but it’s better than closing the door. We probably made our parents just as horrified…
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You are right, keep communicating, don’t close the door no matter what happens in those teen years.
Hope you have a rain free weekend. Cheers!
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looks like rain…
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I completely agree. We had a ‘listening couch’ when they were little. They could come to the couch and tell me anything, I couldn’t speak, they could just unburden and we’d hug it out and get on with our day. The knowledge that I’d listen no matter what they had to say has led to fantastic communication with both my boys as they’ve entered teendom (13 and 19 – one coming in and one leaving!).
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well done!
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Girls are perhaps more moody than boys, but what a delight it is when they become women and then friends.
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We have 5 sons…3 adults, 2 older teens and I am proud of each one! I’d say boys and girls need parents who are available, set some rules, and love them unconditionally.
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…and we need to let them know that we believe the best about them and their future!
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Oh my 5 children, I always wanted 4 but ended up with a daughter & son. My daughter went through her teens without any problems, my son on the other hand did not have such an easy time. On reflection he struggled with peer pressure & trying to fit in.
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Thanks for commenting, it certainly is peer pressure, that not only upset the teenager but it problems always flows back to the family and often affects the rest of your children that are younger, and are still learning about the hard facts that they will face as they mature.
I see it happening now in my great grandchildren probably more than I seen it wth my grandchildren, maybe it is because I have more time to sit back and think about it.
Have a nice weekend.
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You too Elsie
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I raised four kids — 1 boy and 3 girls. I have said before that it’s a good thing I had the boy first! Long story shorter, 3/4 of my gray hairs are from the girls. The other quarter of them came when son was between the ages of 9 and 11. I thought he was Marvin the Martian for those two years. He chased on his bike at breakneck speed a seagull who had stolen his Twinkie. He had weird, improbable and almost impossible accidents. As a teen, though, it was all 90 times worse. Peers, cars, beers, moving trains hopped, visits with cops at the station… The girls, no… but they were so emotional. All of them. And me!
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Yes, children are great, they give us many happy years at first, then things seem to go wrong. I understand fully what you have gone through with your family. The sad thing is that as we grow older and sit back and think about those years and wonder where we went wrong it breaks our heart, especially now in my seventies and my eldest son disowns me for things I was supposed to have done to him in those terrible teen years, it keeps coming back to me in my sleep and gives me no peace of mind all day.
Thanks for telling us your story I appreciate it. Blessings.
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This all is why we all need/ed a Saviour. “Behold, I make all things new.” If you are a believer, then go ahead and release your son unto the care of someone Who knows him even better. There are gaps and chasms in our family relationships because there really was and is love. There’s very little we ourselves can do in this life toward wholeness of heart and charity, whether our own or someone else’s, right? I hope he will lighten up on you, but you can do that, and I hope you will. (((Hang in there.)))
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Lol! Neither are easy! I’m a teacher and although I teach, 11 years old/5th graders,. I can tell you, when I think of them being teens in a few years it is scary. Then again, I’ve had some kids visit me as teenagers, both boys and girls and they are the sweetest kids.
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I adore my teenage boys (13 and 19). They are funny and fun and thank goodness seem to be charting their new course into adulthood relatively smoothly. Communication is key. I’ve lost count of the number of conversations I’ve had with the youngest one about football but if it’s important to him, it’s important to me. I did the same with the eldest one and now we have open and honest conversations about his hopes and dreams, his relationship and any struggles (and joys) he’s going through. There are an awful lot of moments where I have to stop and take a deep breath before responding and I certainly don’t get it right all the time but we’re a little team and the laughter far outways the tears. I’ve just started blogging about life post divorce and am starting to share funny stories of my life with teens. It’s definitely helping keep perspective on the darker days 🙂
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Hi! Nice meeting you and thanks for stopping by and commenting.
All the best to you with your blog, I had a look, looking very promising, I have followed you so I will catch up with reading some of your articles very soon.
Have a nice week.
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Nice Article ! Thanks for sharing this post.
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Making an open relationship with them and being their first best friends can help them to bring close to family !! This is moment to also make them realise what and how parents are doing for them!!
Would be glad if you find good related to family and children have written on my treasure of life and should teenagers be given freedom !!
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