Parenting Fear – Teens

October 24th, 2012   •   Comments Off on Parenting Fear – Teens   

Teenagers want the freedom of being an adult when they’re not actually adults. They’re still teens.

Since this is terrifying, parents of teens are often afraid!

Fear illustrates that you care. You’re a great parent.

  • Relax.
  • The various identities teens try on may scare the crap out of you. It’s scaring the crap out of them too!
  • Pushing against limits is what teens do; this is not the finished product of adulthood.
  • No matter how stupidly they act, don’t state the obvious.  It’s really hard; model self-control.
  • While they’re pulling away, give the respect that an adult wants, and the love a child needs.
  • Communicate concern and your commitment to love without condition. Repeat as needed.

A parent’s role is to communicate love; a child’s role is to grow. Love provides security while they do.

Children love you, but you won’t always feel it, especially from teens! Kids can’t help but love their parents, regardless of what they say and do. It is not a child’s job to make a parent feel loved or secure; that’s the role of a parent.

Be the grown-up while they grow up.

Using Power For Good

October 10th, 2012   •   Comments Off on Using Power For Good   

I don’t have the power to make another adult feel significant or insignificant. I do have the power to treat them with significance or insignificance.

I don’t have the power to make another adult feel loved or unloved. I do have the power to treat them lovingly or unlovingly.

On the flip side, abusive relationships have an abuser and a victim. Most of us have felt like crap, and we’re fairly certain we didn’t wound ourselves!

So, which is it? Am I responsible for how I feel about myself or are you? Are you responsible for how you feel about yourself or is that my job too?

It’s a principle. It’s a guide. When relationships get stuck, principles help move us out of the confusion.

None of us have the power to change how someone feels about themselves at their core, their identity. Many of us believe we do. We work ourselves into exhaustion and frustration trying to use power that we simply don’t have.

At the same time, many of us believe others have the power to make us feel loved or special. We blame them for making us feel like crap and keep trying to help them get it right, so we can feel better. We make ourselves crazy trying to get someone else to make us feel better about ourselves.

We have power. We aren’t powerless, but we’re not all-powerful. Use your power for good.