There are a lot of things that parents have to worry about when their children enter the pre-teen and teenage years. Peer pressure, friends you don’t like, drugs, and alcohol are things that concern parents. What do you do if your child wants to dye their hair?

With all of the other things that teens could be getting involved in, a child wanting to dye their hair is the least of your worries. Before telling your child they can’t dye their hair, ask them some questions:

* Is the reason you want to dye your hair because your friends are doing it?
* What color do you want to dye it?
* Have you checked into whether dying your hair would be safe?
* If you don’t like the way it turns out, will you dye it back or leave it?
* Do you feel dying your hair will affect the way others think about you?

Some children want to dye their hair because they think it’s cool. Their friends or their favorite star may have dyed hair. They may feel dying their hair will help them fit in.

Other children want to dye their hair to get attention. Wanting attention, no matter if it’s positive or negative, is part of the reason why teenagers are into gothic styles. They want people to look at them; they crave the attention.

Another reason why pre-teens and teenagers want to dye their hair is to exert some sense of independence. This is a common occurrence for children at these ages. They feel they have to pull themselves from their parents in order to become who they are supposed to be when they grow up.

Choose your battles when it comes to your pre-teen and teenagers. With all of the other things your child could choose to become involved in, dying their hair is not worth fighting about. How would you feel if they told you they wanted access to some form of birth control? That does help you put things into perspective.

Try to understand their reasoning for wanting to dye their hair. And even though this may seem like odd advice, unless they want to do something drastic or dangerous, let them. Their hair will grow out.

It’s more important to maintain a good relationship with your child than to worry about what they look like on the outside. If they are still basically the same child, their outward appearance shouldn’t be an issue.

If you’re concerned about your child wanting to dye their hair, try to put things into perspective. In the long run, as long as they are still compliant in other areas, their hair color is really a non-issue. Let them experiment with their hair color; they could be asking for cosmetic surgery instead.

Volunteering at your child’s school can be a very positive thing for parents. Not only will you have an opportunity to help out the school, you’ll also be able to spend time with your child in a different capacity than as a parent. You may learn that your child has talents you never knew about.

Begin volunteering at the beginning of the school year and continue with it throughout. Ask the teacher if there’s anything you can do to help. Be prepared, most teachers will jump at the chance of having someone to take on some of their normal tasks.

Teachers often have a great deal to do outside of class. Volunteering only one day a week would make your child’s teacher thrilled. You could make copies, do research, create class manipulatives, or help find resources for classes. There are other possibilities as well, depending upon the amount of time you choose to volunteer.

Establishing a volunteer relationship with your child’s teacher can have positive effects on your child, as well. Teachers can help only one child at a time. If you spend time inside the classroom, you’ll be able to help the children with problems they may have. Your child will see you in a different light, but don’t be surprised if there’s a little jealousy that starts to show up.

Here are some guidelines for making your volunteer time something you will enjoy, something that will be of benefit to the teacher, and that will help your child in the process.

First of all, you’ll know what your child’s assignments are and how the teacher wants them done. Therefore, you’ll be able to help them get their homework done in a timely manner.

Be sure to offer your support to the teacher; don’t question their methods or what they do in class. You’ll also need to be willing to take direction from the teacher. You’re there to help, not hinder the educational process.

Help your child see that getting the most out of their education is important to you. It’s also a shared experience – they’re sharing it with you and their teacher. If all parties involved work together, your child can learn more and have a better experience in the long run.

Don’t go crazy and make a nuisance of yourself, though. Ask the teacher for a specific schedule that you can come and help, and then stick to that schedule. Only show up at unscheduled times if the teacher calls and asks you. By following a schedule, you’ll be less likely to get in the teacher’s way and you’ll give your child much-needed time to shine on their own.

Volunteering at school can be a positive experience for all involved. Parents are more aware of their child’s daily activities, and the child knows their parent is interested in helping them get the most from their education. The teacher, however, may benefit the most by your volunteering. You’re giving them an opportunity to focus on class time and the children rather than dealing with all of the daily clerical-type activities required for class.

By: Yana Berln

First to arrive and the last to depart, I left my girlfriends house at half past midnight, got into my car and headed toward my parents’ house in Los Angeles. My daughter, who is currently attending UCLA, is living with my parents, and I was looking forward to spending the night cuddling her like so many years ago when she was just a baby.

I had been up since very early that morning, but felt like I had more energy than ever. Tonight was one of our Book Club meetings, and reconnecting with my girlfriends always recharges my batteries. I kept thinking how six of us reading the same book could batter up different opinions and views. In particular, it amazed me how three of us thought that the main character died tragically, while the other three insisted that he did not. Discussing books is always fun, and catching up and bonding with girlfriends is priceless.

My busy day required several hours on the cell phone, and by the end of the evening the battery had run dead and my charger was at home. Around 9:00 p.m., I called my other kids to say goodnight and mentioned that my battery was dying. Knowing that three of them were with my husband and one was with my parents, I could relax and enjoy my evening without any worries.

As I got into my car after a delightful evening of book discussion, dinner, a few drinks and a lot of gossip, I thought about my parents and how much they enjoy having my daughter live with them. Daisy appreciates living there as well, but is always concerned that they worry about her.

Before Daisy moved in, my mom swore that she would not give her a hard time about going out and coming home late. So far, she has kept her end of the bargain. The only problem is, she doesn’t bother Daisy; instead she calls me!
Déjà vu All Over Again

As I parked my car and climbed the few steps to my parents’ town home, I opened the door and froze. There stood mom in her pajamas, a look of horror on her face.

Before I had a chance to ask what was wrong, she began screaming that she has been up for hours, worried sick about me. She tried calling me, but my phone was dead. She didn’t know if something happened, and why didn’t I call, and on and on she went.

As I stood there at 43 years of age, a mother of four grown children, I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Part of me felt like asking mom what she was doing up so late, and part felt like I was back in high school, about to get grounded. Only when my mom proclaimed that, “she will talk to my husband” and that “these book clubs have to end, after all how long does it take to discuss one book?” could I no longer contain my laughter.

I love my overly protective, neurotic Jewish mother, but getting lectured at 1:00 in the morning for staying out too late was just too much to take with a straight face. When I asked her to keep quiet in fear of waking my father, mom turned around and announced that she was going to bed.

Still laughing, I entered the bedroom where my daughter laid snickering under the sheets. She told me that grandma waits up for her every time she leaves the house, and also said that my mom made her call and text all of my friends to see if they knew of my whereabouts. Fortunately, my daughter wasn’t worried about me, and actually found the whole incident very entertaining.

As I climbed into bed with my ‘baby,” we had a long talk about how a mother’s job is never done. In my mom’s eyes, I was still a child that needs protection - regardless of my age - and that will never change.

It was a real eye opener for Daisy to see me standing there, ready to take the punishment from my mom. Only this time, I could risk having a smile on my face without the fear of getting sent to my room or ruining my chances of going out that weekend. As my daughter turned to say goodnight, she said, “Mommy, I promise never to run out of power on my cell phone” and we both happily fell asleep.

Before I left for home the next morning, I made an orchid arrangement for my mom as a silent thank you for loving all of us the way she did.

Yana Berlin is a proud mother of 4 wonderful children and a wife to a wonderful man that she adores.

Her oldest daughter is 20 and the youngest 15. As all of her friends began going through all sorts of changes with their bodies and mind, she took it upon herself to create this community of wonderful women who share the same goals, dreams, issues and fears. She feels that if women continue to help one another through exchange of information, nourishment and support, they will own the world.

Her goal is to connect women all over the world to communicate with each other so they can experience the same support and guidance that she receives from her girlfriends. Please Visit Yana’s site http://www.Fabulously40.com

Hi there -

Parenting My Teen has grown so much over the past 2 years (Yes, can you believe it, we are almost 2years old).   Our visitors stats are up over 11,000 unique visitors a month and our shows are filled with great information and interviews.

Parenting My Teen was designed at a bi-weekly podcast but due to many family obligations (new grandson, a husband that has been ill…etc) we will move to a Monthly format until the Christmas Holidays.  Now, that doesn’t mean you don’t have to stop by (smile).  We are busy adding new content and resources to the site each day.  Take your time to browse the may resources that we have and be sure to tune into our latest show or one of our archived shows that can be found here.

If you haven’t had a chance to meet my partner yet, I want to introduce you to our Virtual Assistant/Content Manager here at Parenting My Teen: Tricia Gardner.

Tricia is a ‘God Send’ and takes care of the site, advertising inquiries and content.   She plays a huge role in seeking out and screening guests to appear on the show. Tricia also keeps me on my toes and handles the bulk of the day to day tasks around here She’s been a guest on the show a few times and I have to tell you - she is a lovely lady both inside and out.

Tricia is a Work At Home Mom of three children and she has a very supportive husband. She is the proud owner of TimeSaver VA http://timesaverva.com and has been in the administrative field for over 10 years.

You’ll see Tricia around here quite often adding content, graphics, moving pages around and commenting on the site. Be sure to say Hi when you see her.

Take Care everyone and feel free to post here and add your comments and/or questions.

I wanted to share this great online resource with you called My Out of Control Teen: http://www.parentingmyteen.com/Out-of-Control.HTML

Don’t let the title fool you. Your teen doesn’t need to be totally out of control for you to reap the benefits of this great program because it is great for any parent of strong-willed children.

This program is an online parent support (OPS) system that includes the following:

• My Out-Of-Control Teen eBook (which contains 150 proven techniques to use with your strong-willed teen)
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• Power Point Presentations and Videos you can viewonline
• Full access to OPS Website

Best of all, it is at a great low price and comes with a no hassle money-back guarantee. Visit My Out Of Control Teen today and try it free!