Teen Very Angry Over Divorce
A mom on our forum seeks advice: I am in the middle of getting divorced. My husband left 2 1/2 years ago because he wanted his "freedom"...I have 3 children. My daughter was just turning 13 when he left. She is now 15 and is still as angry as she was when he left. At first she would visit him every other weekend and stay with him, but that ended after about 3 months. At that time she got increasingly angry and refused to speak to him or see him. He blamed me for influencing her and "changing her feelings." Read more...Teen Very Angry Over Divorce originally appeared on About.com Parenting of Adolescents on Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 at 08:35:55. Permalink | Comment | Email this
Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:35:55 +0000
Spring Activities for Teens - Week One
These spring activities for teens can be done individually, with friends or with the whole family. Each week has four different types of teen activities for spring: Make This (Recipe), Craft This, Learn How and Get Out and Go! Each activity idea is fun for your teen.Spring Activities for Teens - Week One originally appeared on About.com Parenting of Adolescents on Monday, March 8th, 2010 at 07:01:36. Permalink | Comment | Email this
Mon, 08 Mar 2010 07:01:36 +0000
Parents Don't Like Their Son's Girlfriend
A mom on the forum seeks advice: My 17-year-old son is dating a 15-year-old girl. He is completely besotted with her, has lost interest in his hobbies and his friends and spends most of his time with her or on the phone to her. She is quite unlike the nice girls he has previously dated. She has on her own account already had sex with 8 boys, her own father says she is a compulsive liar and recently accused her of stealing money from the home.He has had to get up at 3.30 am last week to pick her up from the town center where she had been out drinking as she didn't want her parents to know she had been out.
We have expressed our concerns to our son that she will hurt him or cause trouble for him however he says she is with him now and people change.
We have tried to be tolerant and calm and would not try to tell him that he cannot see her however my husband (his Dad)now does not want her name mentioned and does not want her in our house. This is causing a lot of friction between my son and his dad whom he has always had a very close relationship with. I'm afraid that this is just more likely to make my son pull away from his family and further into the arms of his girlfriend. His girlfriends parents feel my son is a good influence on their daughter and are delighted with him. Can anyone give me some good advice, I feel torn between my son and my husband?
Denise's thoughts: I would try talking with him, if you can keep your feelings in check. An honest heart-to-heart. Letting him know why you are worried, but telling him that you respect his decisions. Then back off, because as long as you and your husband are the 'bad guys' the more she can hold on to him. If you remove yourself as the problem, he may begin to she her antics as not something he wants to deal with.
Asking our parenting community: Have you always liked your teen's dates? With or without reason? Please share your advice and experiences in our comments area. Parents Don't Like Their Son's Girlfriend originally appeared on About.com Parenting of Adolescents on Friday, March 5th, 2010 at 08:00:11. Permalink | Comment | Email this
Fri, 05 Mar 2010 08:00:11 +0000
Quiz: How confident is your teen? Find out now!
Does your teen have a 'can-do' attitude or do they hide at the thought of something new? Knowing this will tell you if your teen has the confidence they need to get the most out of their adolescence. Try our simple ten question true or false quiz about teen confidence and follow up with our resources on building your teen's confidence. Take the quiz.Quiz: How confident is your teen? Find out now! originally appeared on About.com Parenting of Adolescents on Thursday, March 4th, 2010 at 10:15:28. Permalink | Comment | Email this
Thu, 04 Mar 2010 10:15:28 +0000
Money Saving Tips for Reading Teens
I have a confession to make: I have a reader in my home and I am slowly going broke buying books. Yes, she goes to our local library and has read the books on their shelves - it is a small library. Yes, she goes to her school library - she has read most of what is there. She is currently working through her English teacher's personal library and has joined a book club with that teacher.
Having a reader like this means that frugal parents need to get savvy when obtaining good books that our teens want to read. Here are three money-saving ideas:
1.) I have found the PaperbackSwap.com site and I'm loving the idea for my teen daughter and myself. You post books that you would like to swap out and you earn credits by swapping them. Then you use your credits to 'order' books you want to read from others. The only cost associated with the swap is the cost of mailing the book. My only caution is that you will need to watch who your teen is swapping with and who sends them books as it is an online community.
2.) Teens can get together and make suggestions for books to be purchased at their local library. They can even do a book drive and earn some money towards their list of suggested books. This is a great way to do some volunteer community service and get a few more books on the library's shelves that teens like to read.
3.) Swap books with friends. Get a group of friends who like to read and do a circular swap where a book goes from one person to the next until it gets around the to everyone and back to its owner.
More Money Saving Ideas: Save Money On Your Teen's Shoes | Saving Money: Know What Is in Your Teen's Closet
Asking our parenting community: Do you have more money saving tips for reading teens? Please share your tips and advice in the comments area.
Follow the About.com Parenting & Family's Thrifty Thursday:
Money Saving Tips for Reading Teens originally appeared on About.com Parenting of Adolescents on Thursday, March 4th, 2010 at 05:00:21. Permalink | Comment | Email this
Thu, 04 Mar 2010 05:00:21 +0000
How To Be a Chaperone at the Prom
Prom committees are looking for adult volunteers for help with this year's prom. You may want to offer to help with set up/take down, securing rentals or chaperoning. Give your teen's high school a call and find out which teacher is the prom adviser. Then give him/her a call to offer your services.
More: How to Make the Most of Prom Time
How To Be a Chaperone at the Prom originally appeared on About.com Parenting of Adolescents on Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 at 06:30:10. Permalink | Comment | Email this
Tue, 02 Mar 2010 06:30:10 +0000
Work This Teen Craft Up Quickly - Pesonalized No Sew Pillow
This personalize teen craft is made from an old pair of blue jeans. I think it may turn out to be the best bang for your budget large youth group craft that I have ever done. And of course, it's also perfect to do with one teen who has grown out of her favorite jeans. You just can't lose with this teen craft.
More: All Blue Jean Crafts | All Teen Crafts
Work This Teen Craft Up Quickly - Pesonalized No Sew Pillow originally appeared on About.com Parenting of Adolescents on Monday, March 1st, 2010 at 06:19:26. Permalink | Comment | Email this
Mon, 01 Mar 2010 06:19:26 +0000
14-Year-Old Girl Wants to Date 18-Year-Old Boy
A mom on our forum seeks advice: "My 14 year old daughter met this boy (18 years old) through mutual friends. She is infatuated with him and says she loves him. He says he loves her too. She has told him there will be no sexual activity between them and she says he understands that??? My feeling is NO!NO!NO! I don't want he to date him or any (over her age) boy. Should I say NO and risk her sneaking around and doing it. How should I handle this? I am a single mom. Her father hardly has any time for her."
Advice from cstone360: "Your concerns on both sides are very valid. Perhaps a lesser of two evils, however undesirable, may be ideal. Instead of risking her running of and possibly getting pregnant, perhaps say she can see him but only when you're around - come over for dinner, studying, hanging out while you're there and visible at all times. Studying in a common room (living room, etc). if they wish to go to a movie or dinner - drive them and accompany them, never leaving them out of your sight. Undesirable but the lesser of two evils. He may grow wary of mom always being around and leave."
Denise's thoughts: I agree with cstone360. The mom could try and forbid it, but has no way of doing what she would need to do to enforce it. Allow the dating when you can chaperon. Keep lines of communication open with your daughter, talking to her often about sex, love, family values and teen pregnancy.
Suggested Reading:
Asking our parenting community: Do you agree, disagree or think it isn't any big deal? Please share your thoughts, advice and experiences in the comments area. 14-Year-Old Girl Wants to Date 18-Year-Old Boy originally appeared on About.com Parenting of Adolescents on Friday, February 26th, 2010 at 06:32:08. Permalink | Comment | Email this
Fri, 26 Feb 2010 06:32:08 +0000
Staying Home Alone While Parents Are Away
I often hear two sides to this issue. Some parents have no problem trusting their teens to stay home when they are away for the weekend, some would never dream of doing that. It just goes to show that teens, parents and families can be as different as their fingerprints. A view I've always held. Here is a parenting contract for your personal use that you can print out. Please feel free to use as it or make it your own.
Related Resources:
Staying Home Alone While Parents Are Away originally appeared on About.com Parenting of Adolescents on Thursday, February 25th, 2010 at 07:01:57. Permalink | Comment | Email this
Thu, 25 Feb 2010 07:01:57 +0000
Parenting Quiz: Are You Ready to Raise a Teen?
It doesn't take long for your child to grow up an become a teen. Many parents believe, myself included, that it all happens in a blink of an eye. All the time you prepared for your baby and now they are wanting to date, drive and avoid their homework. Are you ready for this? Take our quiz and find out now!
Parenting Quiz: Are You Ready to Raise a Teen? originally appeared on About.com Parenting of Adolescents on Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010 at 15:27:21. Permalink | Comment | Email this
Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:27:21 +0000
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