The years are racing by. You and your family stand facing unknown teen terrain. There are four conversation topics you should address now because the remaining years will zoom by even faster.
These early discussions may help your teen set in place healthy life patterns that will carry them through all the ups and downs in life. Buckle your parental seat belt, and face your complaining, eye-rolling teen with determination and love.
Peer Pressure
Talk to your teen about the intense stress and pressure that builds up internally when someone is put on the spot. Explain to your teen it’s best to have already a plan of action to run with before confronted with the situation.
Teach them to predetermine if they should say no, break the rule in a slight way or get away in a flash. Watch TV, movies and even the news with your teen. Get them to engage in discussions about the serious issues staged on the TV show or in the film.
Discuss real life events that are being played out before your eyes on the news. Ask your teen what they would do, or ask them how they think the situation could have ended more positively.
It is all about flash in the moment choices. Grab teachable moments in the car or at the dinner table, and use these moments to bring up potentially awkward scenarios.
Act them out together. Engage in an interactive education you can twist to be funny and serious, all at the same time.
Friends
Choosing friends is a big decision. Talk to your teen about kids they are in school with.
Be brave and ask about those kid’s future goals. Discuss who you went to high school with. Talk openly about the groups you chose to hang out with.
Point out what the kids in that group grew up and did with their life. Discuss negative and positive events from your experience.
Discuss life. Talk about the choices they’re faced with, and how they shouldn’t just gravitate towards a group.
Talk to them about the importance of choosing friends carefully. Share statistics that played and continue to play out in life.
Open up social media and use it as a story book. Talk about life, and talk about how your friends impacted your life.
Talk about the educational choices they made and about who went to college, vocational school or chose an unskilled job. Point out how many have families and careers that they love.
Drugs and Alcohol
Collect brochures and info on drugs. Use them to start conversations popular drugs in your township.
Speak to your teen about different types of drugs and what they look like so they know what to avoid. Talk about alcoholism and the adverse effects of intoxication.
Talk about long term and short term consequences of doing drugs and drinking alcohol. Invite their friends to hang out at your house. Pay attention.
Watch for warning signs of drug or alcohol use. Do not pull a blind veil over your face. Courageously love your child.
Sex
You must have multiple ongoing conversations about every type of sexual issue. This discussion must be open ended.
Safe sex with a boyfriend or girlfriend is just one conversation that must be had. But, do not wait to talk about safe sex when you know that they have begun dating.
Talk now. Talk about this subject, as often as you can. If you need help from others, seek counsel for yourself and then for your teen, if necessary.
Do not ever avoid the subject if they ask you a personal question or you if you suspect dangerous behavior. Be sure to illustrate examples and consequences of bad choices, like unintended pregnancies.
Knowing the outcome, like raising children at a young age or adoption through agencies like A Child’s Dream, is important in helping them make good decisions.
Raising children is a beautiful experience. The teenage years are monumental.
Take a good look at your schedule. Now is not the time to stretch out and leave the home.
Your teenager is going to need you daily. It’s in the small moments that teaching takes place.
If your teen steps in quick sand, be there to pull him out. Keep your parental seat belt on, and have the emergency flashers ready at all times.
These conversations and the relationship they help you cultivate with your teen are crucial to have.
