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Thursday 17 May 2012

15 ways to parent a teenager.

I found this rather good list on the internet - "15 things to give up to be happy".  It makes a lot of sense.  However, I felt the need to reframe it:


1. GIVE UP YOUR NEED TO ALWAYS BE RIGHT

Teenagers are always right.  No need for you to put a spanner in the works...
2. GIVE UP YOUR NEED FOR CONTROL
Of course it's their body and no amount of you saying "You'll regret getting a tattoo, piercing your eyebrow, not wearing a coat" will seem like motherly concern or the wisdom of old age.  It is, of course, a control issue.
3. GIVE UP ON BLAME
 Just know that it is always your fault.
4. GIVE UP YOUR SELF-DEFEATING SELF-TALK.
Teenagers supply all the deprecation you need.
5. GIVE UP YOUR LIMITING BELIEFS
Yes, you really can pick up 20 wet towels from a bedroom floor without crying.
6. GIVE UP COMPLAINING
It's called nagging and doesn't work when earphones are plugged in
7. GIVE UP THE LUXURY OF CRITICISM
Nuff said?
8. GIVE UP YOUR NEED TO IMPRESS OTHERS
It's just deeply embarrassing for your teenagers when you try to make any kind of conversation with their friends.
9. GIVE UP YOUR RESISTANCE TO CHANGE
Watch TOWIE and don't comment.  It's perfectly good television.  What do you mean you want to watch "Chatsworth"?
10. GIVE UP LABELS
Expensive clothes and shoes are just going to be "borrowed" on a permanent basis
11. GIVE UP ON YOUR FEARS
The likelihood is that you will make it intact until they leave home.
12. GIVE UP YOUR EXCUSES
You are always in the wrong.
13. GIVE UP THE PAST
and just agree that their music is so much better and more meaningful than Dire Straits.
14. GIVE UP ATTACHMENT
After all your much loved, prized, lovingly cared for Valentino cardigan you bought with your first bonus in 1985 looks good as a piece of floor art......
15. GIVE UP LIVING YOUR LIFE TO OTHER PEOPLE’S EXPECTATIONS
See point 1

5 comments:

  1. Anonymous17 May, 2012

    'TOWIE' is dreadful... Just saying... :P xxx

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  2. May I add, "Give up your need to have any form of communication that isn't interrupted by Facebook and constant texting."?

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  3. I love it all! Wise woman.... x

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  4. A friend of mine's mom had a magnet on the fridge that said "Dear Teenagers: Move out now while you still know everything!".

    MUCH funnier with time....

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