We’re talking about the hot topic of Teen Dating this week. My guest is Tricia Gardner from Timesaver VA and she asked a few important questions about her 15-year-old daughter and the issue of dating.

The number one mistake parents make is not meeting the boyfriend or girlfriend of their child. Very often it’s because the child fights the issue and is afraid their parents won’t like the boyfriend or they will get embarassed in front of a girlfriend.

Just because your child is now a teenager does not mean you should just willingly hand them over to a stranger, which is exactly what happens when parents do not meet the boyfriend. You need to trust that your child can make safe decisions but at the same time parents should know who their child is spending time with. A simple 10-minute visit can allow you to meet the boy or girlfriend and you can work up to longer visits as time goes on.

Another mistake parents often make is ignoring their child if he/she asks advice about birth control. If your child comes to you with this question, then congratulate yourself on having an open and safe relationship with your child! Even if you have to take a moment to gather your thoughts, ignoring the topic will not make the issue go away.

Many groups have varying thoughts on whether or not parents should allow their children to use birth control. Many oppose the idea based on religious beliefs and others oppose the idea because they believe it’s giving their child permission to have sex.

Studies have shown that if a teen wants to have sex, he or she will do so, with or without birth control. Putting your child on birth control will not give them permission to have sex but will keep them safe if they make that choice.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this hot topic! Leave a comment below or call our Listeners’ Line at (214) 615-6505 ext. 4245

 

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My guest this week is Jean Walbridge, a licensed clinical social worker and owner of www.ParentingAdolescents.com. Jean has great advice to help us open up the lines of communication with our teens and she discusses what is a fair consequence for bad behavior.

For today’s teens, the authoritarian parent is often ignored and rebellion is often more pronounced. Rather than trying to “lay down the law” with your teen, have a calm conversation with them, discussing the household rules and what the consequences will be if the rules are broken. Asking for your teen’s opinion of what they think is fair will give them a sense of responsibility and make them feel respected by you.

A fair consequence should be slightly difficult or disappointing for a teen to accept. They should “feel a pinch” and know that they will risk this consequence if they choose to engage in the bad behavior again.

A good consequence does not eliminate the bad behavior altogether. Rather, the consequence should teach a lesson that if your teen does a certain behavior, then a particular consequence will occur. They need to know that they have stepped over the line if they break a household rule.

Listen to Jean’s advice if you have a teen who does not adhere or care about the consequences of their actions. Although you can’t control your teen’s behavior, they need you to influence their behavior. They are still learning so they need you to be their coach.

 

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This week my guest is LaTara Ham-Ying from Vegan Family Living and we chatted about what it’s like to raise a teenage son. This is our very first show dedicated just to boys and I’m so glad that LaTara was eager to tell us what she does to insure that she has a close and open relationship with her 15-year-old son.

There are definite differences between boys and girls but they do face the same dilemmas during their teen years, such as teen sex, body image and trying to fit in with the “cool” crowd. Very often boys are perceived as being more sexually active but LaTara tells us a story about how girls are becoming much more forward with their bodies and the topic of sex.

Likewise, when we say “body image problems”, we picture girls with eating disorders who are striving to have the “perfect” skinny body. But let’s not forget that boys can also have a distorted body image and can be tempted to try steroids in an effort to increase their muscle mass or to emulate their favorite athletes.

Lastly, all teens face peer pressure during these high school years, which is why having an open path of communication with a parent is so important. Teens are often confused by situations they find themselves in and often need guidance to find their way unharmed. LaTara also has some effective ways to encourage your son to open up and share his life with you.

Join us for an enlightening conversation about the teen years from a boy’s persepective.

 

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Do YOU know how you would handle the situation if your teen announced, “I’m pregnant”? Are you a parent who has recently heard those words are want to know how to mend your relationship with your pregnant teen?

Your host Aurelia Williams and guest Tricia Gardner from www.timesaverva.com offer words of encourgement and hope to those parents who have heard those exact words. Both women share their personal stories of teen pregnancy and offer advice for having an open relationship with your teen.

While being a teen parent will be tough and will have many challenges, being supportive of your pregnant teen will help stabilize everyone’s raw emotions and will help you become closer to your teen. Very often teens are afraid of being shunned by their families and do not want to cause embarrasment or disappointment to their parents, so they turn to their friends for support. If you show your support for your pregnant teen, you will alleviate a lot of unnecessary stress that can also affect the fetus.

Aurelia and Tricia speak very candidly about their personal experiences and emotions and are an inspiration for all parents who want to have a close and communicative relationship with their teenager.

 

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With the holiday season upon us, I welcome Monique Howat from www.ConfidentGirlsGuys.com to share some unique and fun ways to encourage our teens to give back to those less fortunate.

So often our kids get involved in writing wish lists for expensive gifts and they do not think about the poor or homeless. So often children their own ages are lacking food or shelter. Monique shares some of her funny family stories of how she taught her three daughters the joy of giving.

Click here for a new, free report from Linda Hinkle titled, Why Success in Mathematics Is Important For You and Your Teen and How you Can Help Them Achieve It.

 

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