Weary Parent: Parenting Tweens & Teens

My Mission Statement for the Weary Parent

by SP on November 8th, 2006

I’m kind of writing this after the fact. My kids are now into their twenties, but I certainly do remember what it was like to raise them as tweens (although we didn’t call them that back then) and then as they moved into their teens.

Thinking back, I have lots of great memories of those years and if I could go back, I certainly would. It’s a time when they actually need you in their lives. I remember the long heart to hearts with Jamie. And then there were the long walks with Brittany when we talked about anything and everything. I guess that what my mission statement boils down to. Always be there for your kids. No matter what.

And yes, I do have some words of wisdom…

1. You are the parents and therefore you get to set the rules. I talking curfews here. That’s why I’m still weary.

2. Do your best to teach them how to be good people.

3. Teach them that the magic in their lives should continue into their adulthood.

4. Be watchful. Kid can get into the wrong crowds and while you can’t pick their friends for them, you can try to steer them in the direction you want them to go. It’s not always easy, but you can only hope that the values that you have taught them as they were growing up… took hold.

5. Don’t push your kids into younger versions of yourself. They will have their own ideas about what they want to do with their lives.

6. Be there to pick up the pieces when things go wrong.

7. Control your own anger and yes, they do sometimes push you to your limits.

Okay, I know that I’m rambling but suddenly a zillion memories began to fill my head. If there is anything I want to pass along to the readers of Weary Parent is the fact that these can be trying years, but they can be a whole lot of fun too. Were they more fun than they were trying? You bet they were. And that’s the part that I want to pass along to you.

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POSTED IN: Memories, Weary Parent