Helping Your Teen Handle Stress

September 15, 2008

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This article was written by Guest Blogger Aurelia Williams of Real Life Guidance.

Life as a teenager today is very different from when we were kids. Our lives were much less complicated, with school and family being the primary focus. When we turned 16 we applied for part-time jobs to earn our spending money and still managed to hang out with friends after work or on the weekends.

Teens today have many pressures we didn’t and they also tend to do more. Sports team practices have become more rigorous, there are more school clubs to choose from, and some kids spend their entire weekends working their part-time jobs to save for the ever-increasing college costs. Pressure to gain admission to a “good” college is more intense and during the summer months teens find ways to volunteer with a charity or summer camp, which is often a college requirement.

However, many teens are not mature enough to handle this adult pressure. They might need help with time management so they don’t spend all their time studying or working. Or they might need help paring down their after school activities so they can finish their homework and get enough rest each night.
Teens need parents who will guide them and give them sound advice.

Being supportive, listening to the ranting and raving, and advising without pushing your teen in a certain direction, are all tools you can use to help balance your teen in all facets of their life.

For instance, rather than placing even greater pressure on your teen by demanding they get a certain grade, reassure your teen that you remember the pressures of having to do well on exams. Tell them it’s OK to feel nervous before a big test but offer to be their study partner. Tell them once the exams are over, you will take them out and celebrate.

Be supportive, too, if they feel out of control because of issues they cannot resolve. Dating issues and fallouts with friends are common occurances in high school so ask if they’d like to talk. Invoke the wisdom you have gained when you were a teen. Site examples of times you felt out of control and what steps you took to resolve issues. Offer suggestions, not mandates.

Your teen will soon be an adult and how you handle stressful situations will influence how your teen will react to their own stressful situations. Being a positive force in their life will help them feel stable even though you are still giving them the freedom to figure things out for themselves.

Being a mom is extremely rewarding, but it’s challenging. Get the help you need at Real Life Guidance. It’s your place for instant downloadable help for moms, day or night.

Posted by Christina | Filed Under Parenting 

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