The parenting journey has never been an easy one. From the first day your baby arrives, you are thrown into a world of change with no idea what’s coming next in this crazy thing called life–but don’t worry! There will always be those moments where everything feels right and whole again; they’re just few-orem kai polis ( Tokens for eternity).
As a parent, you have the opportunity to help your child find themselves as they grow up. This can be one of life’s greatest joys if we let it! But raising children isn’t always easy – especially during these formative years when adolescents are trying on their identity and dealing with changes that come along only halfway through puberty such emotional rollercoasters or physical transitioning into adulthood.
There are some things you can do to make the parenting journey a little easier. First, it’s important to be patient and understanding. Adolescence is a time of great change, both for your child and for you as a parent. It can be frustrating at times, but try to remember that this is just a phase. Second, don’t hesitate to ask for help when you need it.
Here are some more tips for parenting through adolescence:
- Try to keep communication open with your teenager. This can be difficult at times, but it’s important to try.
- Encourage your teenager to express their feelings and listen to them without judgement.
- Respect your teenager’s privacy and give them space when they need it.
- Help your teenager find healthy ways to cope with stress and emotions.
- Encourage your teenager to be active and get involved in activities they enjoy.
- Talk to other parents, professionals, or support groups for advice and support. Parenting is not easy, but you are not alone!
After my own struggles with guilt, frustration and failure as a parent I stumbled across the six core needs developed by Dr. Ross Campbell in his book The Six Basic Needs of Children which has helped me immensely during this parenting journey that we’re on together; it also gives us all an opportunity to better understand our children’s behaviour without feeling like they are manipulating or unfairly getting what they want from us because there is nothing wrong about wanting something if you ask nicely!
1. The need for security and stability
2. The need to feel loved and accepted
3. The need for a sense of power and control
4. The need for a sense of belonging
5. The need for self-worth
6. The need for fun and excitement
If you are able to provide your child with these six needs then you will be giving them the best possible start in life, but it is also important to remember that every child is different and will therefore have different priorities when it comes to their needs. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, so it is important to take the time to get to know your child and what makes them tick.
If you’re not sure where to start, why not sit down with your child and ask them what they need from you? It might just be the key to a happier and more harmonious family life.it’s our job to provide them with what they need. Sometimes that means being a little stricter than we’d like to be. But if it means that our children are happy and thriving, then it’s worth it. Other times, it means letting go and giving our children the freedom to make their own choices. This can be scary, but it’s an important part of helping them develop into responsible adults. No matter what, parenting is never easy. But if we focus on meeting our children’s needs, we can help them through even the toughest times.
Knowing these needs exists has been a huge help in my parenting, as it has allowed me to meet my children where they are at rather than where I want them to be. It has also helped me to understand their behaviour and to respond in a way that is supportive and helpful. These needs are not just relevant for adolescents but for all human beings regardless of age. However, they become even more important during adolescence, as this is a time when children are working hard to establish their identity and figure out who they are.
If you have adolescent-age children, I encourage you to learn more about the six core needs. It might just help in the way you parent by taking out all the complicated and confusing advice. There is so much information out there, so no wonder parents are confused so for me, this framework has been invaluable in every way, including my own self-care.
We all know that being a parent is difficult. There are so many things to worry about, and it can be hard not having the answers for everything your kids need or want! But remember throughout these years of growth-building challenges will come great independence; they’re figuring out who themselves really are – even if we don’t always get them quite right yet (or maybe ever). And you? As their earthly authority figure(s), let’s keep filling our own cups too. We are all doing the best we can and want the same for our children too.
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