It’s rough being a teenager, no matter what. Your child is going through huge hormonal changes, and the unexpected stress that comes with the transition into adulthood. Junior high age students are starting to be asked which college they’re interested in going to before they even fully hit puberty. As a good parent, you don’t want your teen to have to shoulder this burden alone.
Unfortunately, sometimes your attempts to connect and be supportive aren’t met with the most warmth. Teens are tricky, but there are ways to help them that won’t be perceived as meddling. Here are three ways you can show your teen that you’re there for them. You still might get an eye roll, but they should genuinely appreciate these efforts.
Provide them the right space to take care of their mental health.
As your child’s brain continues to develop and their bodies start to change, there may be mental health issues that arise for the first time. It’s important to be diligent in clocking behavioral changes. Some changes are normal, obviously, but others can get in the way of schoolwork, social lives, and even lead to self-harm.
The last thing your teen wants to do is talk to a parent about what’s going on. Even if you’re an open and accepting person, they may not want to talk to you, because they don’t want to worry or disappoint you. Removing them from the stressors of their life for a little while and housing them with professionals who can help them heal might be the best option and ultimately bring your family closer together.
Polaris Teen Centers provide an environment where your teen’s “specific needs, health, happiness, overall wellness, and recovery are a top priority.” Their network of mental health professionals will be able to create individualized solutions and recovery plans for your child. The Polaris Teen Centers understand that mental health isn’t one-size-fits-all, which is one of the reasons they’re ranked among the top adolescent facilities in the world. If your teen is struggling, consider sending them for help. It might end up being the best thing you ever do for them.
Provide a resource that gives you comfort.
If religion is something that provides you comfort in times of great stress or turmoil, you may want to share it with your child. Forcing your child to go to church every Sunday may not be the best solution. Teenagers often don’t want to do what their parents suggest as they try to find their own autonomy. This can be the case with religion as well. To show your son or daughter support, consider purchasing them a new revised standard version Bible.
Before you gift them their new Bible, you can go through, and sticky note your favorite passages. It might be nice to write something about when and how a specific passage has helped you through your life when you were young. Adolescents often feel very isolated, so giving them a nonintrusive glimpse into your own life as a teen could be really useful. They’ll be able to pick and choose when they interact with religion and might have a more positive and long-lasting experience.
Show an interest in your teen’s hobbies.
A great way to connect with your teen is by asking them about their hobbies and doing some research on your own. It can be hard to find common ground as they’re going through changes. You don’t need to be a helicopter parent about it, but even just understanding the basics and being able to ask them more thoughtful questions at dinner will be enough to show them that you care, you see them, and you’re taking an interest, while still providing space.
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