Uncategorized Archives - Raising Teens

Category: Uncategorized (page 1 of 17)

How does a mom connect with her teenage son?

So sophomore year has started for my teenage son and yet another year of high school has begun. When my daughter was in high school I could rely on her telling me about all the school drama, her teachers, what’s happening in school. But, with my son, I get… crickets crickets (silence). I have to probe, pull, nag, or interrogate just to find out what is going on? Every time I ask a questions I am “annoying” or I am “bothering” him. I have never felt so disconnected from my teen son. I know high school years are not easy for teen boys, but does he really have to shut mom out?

Matthew tells me school is hard and stressful and not like it was in the 70s when I went to school. Hello…. I graduated high school in 1985, thank you very much. I am NOT that old. I just want to be closer to my son, but the closer I try to get, the more he pushes away. I try to give him his space, but anytime I enter his room he doesn’t want to talk. He would rather play video games, or talk with his friends on the phone. I know this is a phase, but I really don’t like it at all!!!

I try to tell myself that I went through this with Olivia and this too shall pass. When I drive Matthew to school it’s dead silence in the car. I try to start a conversation, but he uses one word answers. I know it’s an awkward stage, but I’m your mom! The person you looked up to and couldn’t live without just five years ago.

There are rare moments when Matthew will open up. But those are few and far between. If he texts me, it’s about food or clothes he wants me to get for him. It’s funny how Olivia will text me all day long from college, and yet my son won’t text me at all. I guess the level of communication is the difference between having a teenage daughter and son.

I guess I am struggling with giving him space, but not too much space, because in the end it’s my responsibility to make sure he makes smart choices and does the right things.

I enter his room every day when I get home and give him a hug. When he hugs me back, it makes me feel so happy. I need him to know how much I love him, even though it’s awkward for him now. I usually go in his room a few more times before I go to bed and I’ll even get in a kiss on his head. I know he loves me, and I truly believe he feels awkward showing affection to me. I just want to connect with him and for the life of me, I just can’t figure out how?

I would love to hear if any other moms or dads have had this issue with their teen son, and what you did to overcome it?

I know just this stage in my son’s life will pass, and I will get my Matthew back, but in the meantime, I will breathe, be patient, take one day at a time and make sure he stays on the right path.

How to Make the College Application Process Less Stressful

September 20, 2017 / raisingteensblogger (Cindy) / 0 Comments

I am on the phone with a teenager, talking about her college applications when her father enters the room, makes a comment to her and the two begin fighting. Unfortunately, this scenario is not uncommon. If you have a high school senior, be ready for some arguments over college applications.

The college application process is stressful for teens and for their parents. Some of us have kids who are all in. They want to go to college and they want to get their applications done. But even if they want to do it all by themselves, they get overwhelmed.

Then, there are the teens who aren’t motivated at all to fill out college applications. They aren’t sure whether they even want to go to college, or they just don’t want to put in the effort to apply.

In either scenario there is one thing in common: a stressed out parent!

I know because I have been that stressed out parent. As a writer, I wanted to help my older son with his common app essay. He refused to let me, or to even consider my suggestions. It led to some awful fights.

Most high school seniors are in the thick of the application process right now. What they quickly discover is that there is a LOT involved in the process. So parents, here are my five suggestions for holding onto your sanity during the process.

Prepare a list together. Work with your teen on a list of schools and make sure they are colleges or universities you an afford. Ask your teen what major he or she is interested in or considering and make sure the colleges on that list have that major. Once the list is made, put the responsibility in your teen’s hands for applying on time.
Don’t nag. Once your teen knows the deadlines, nagging only makes things more tense. It’s okay to check in every so often on progress, but it’s not okay to continually remind your teen that applications need to get done. It only creates tension. If your teen is independent enough to go to college, he or she should be able to get the application done by deadline — or ask for your help.
Don’t get offended. If your teen doesn’t take your advice or suggestions, it’s normal. If you want to give an opinion or make a suggestion, be prepared for your teen to dismiss what you have to say.
Be open to options. If the application process becomes too contentious, back off. In the end, your teen needs to own it. Or, if your teen isn’t ready for college, don’t freak out. There are great vocational schools and certificate programs that can lead to high paying jobs.
Consider getting help. There are people who you can provide guidance, not just college advisors but sometimes teachers at your teen’s school or friends who are strong in grammar. It’s amazing how when someone else tells your teen the exact same thing you do, they listen.

The college application process is a year long process of applying, getting accepting, making housing deposits and making a final choice. It’s a year where there may be lots of tears of frustration and elation – and almost always some arguments. Just hang in there! It will all work out!

So, what are your thoughts…..do you believe parents should be highly involved in the process, or do you believe in a completely hands off approach?

Olivia’s college room decor!

September 8, 2017 / mominthesprings / 0 Comments

I thought I would share with the readers, Olivia’s college room decor which is a reflection of her love with the Tiffany blue color.

When your child puts together their college room it is very personal and a huge part of telling their other roommates who they are. Olivia loves her room. It’s her study room, her TV room, her resting room, her safe place, her sanctuary.

I know after class, she looks forward to crashing in her bed and either taking a nap, doing homework, studying or watching Netflix.

This is her home away from home that she created for herself and that mom and dad help her put together.

We would love to hear or see pictures from your college student’s “sanctuary.” Please share!

How to Talk to a Teenage Boy

September 6, 2017 / raisingteensblogger (Cindy) / 0 Comments

One day, I asked my teenage son if he was getting along with his girlfriend. I thought I had heard him arguing on the phone with her, but I wasn’t sure. He responded to my inquiry with a grunt. I am pretty sure no actual words were uttered. It reminded me once again how frustrating it can be to try to talk to a teenage boy.

When my sons were little, a friend tried to warn me of what was ahead. “I find out everything about my teenage son from my teenage daughter. If it wasn’t for her, I would know nothing,” she exclaimed with a big sigh.

By high school, most teenagers – girls and boys- begin telling their friends a lot more than they tell you, the parent. But teen boys tend to tell their parents even less than teen girls do. They can easily make you feel like every question is invasive and like you’re the last person to know anything about your own child. It can be SO frustrating as a parent. My older son adopted “cave man talk” in high school. He answered my prying questions with such short answers that I had no idea what he was saying and often wondered if he was speaking another language.

So, as a parent what can you do? How do you talk to a teenage boy?

Here are 5 tips I can offer from my personal experience:

The full stomach. Start important conversations when your son has a full stomach. You are much more likely to get the conversation flowing when your son has consumed something hearty.
The relentless questions. Phrase your questions carefully. Make sure you don’t give your son the option to give you one word answers. Also, avoid asking the same question over and over when you don’t get a clear answer. Instead, come at it from a different angle.
The timing. It’s normal for teen boys to say very little about what’s going on in school or with friends or with a love interest. Use an activity like bike riding or swimming to start a conversation. Boys tend to open up more when they don’t have to look you in the face during the conversation.
The right language. Use the word “because.” When you tell your son why you want to know something, he is more likely to answer your question. I’m not sure they psychology behind this, I just know it works.
The unsolicited advice. Let’s face it, teen boys know everything. They don’t want a parent’s advice, especially if they didn’t ask for it. So, you need to get crafty. During a conversation, slip some advice in but don’t let it come across as advice. (This may take a few times to master but don’t give up…it will be worth it!)

Readers, have I left any strategies out for talking to a teenage boy? If you have been successful getting a reluctant teenage boy to talk, or listen, please drop us a note in the comments section below to share your approach.

Would you let your teen have sex in your house?

August 28, 2017 / raisingteensblogger (Cindy) / 0 Comments

A couple of week’s ago, I wrote a blog post about teen sex and some teenagers who had been taken in by police for having sex on the beach. In the post, I said I would rather my teens have sex in my house than in a public place. I didn’t realize at the time what a firestorm I would set off.

The RaisingTeens blog post was picked up by Lifehacker. The title of the article was Would You Let Your Teenager Have Sex in Your House?

Then, the topic of letting your teen have sex in your home was featured as a hot topic on The View.

Also exciting, Raquel and I debated the topic of letting teens have sex in your home on the radio for Detroit’s 94.7 WCSX.

Here is the podcast from the Class Rock Morning Show

Clearly this is topic that has many nuances and there are lots of opinions. Basically, some people think letting your teen have sex in your home is a terrible thing. They believe it’s disrespectful.

I don’t encourage or even give my teenage children permission to have sex in our home. However, I do believe letting my teen have sex in his or her bedrooms is preferable to the idea of my teen having sex in a public place like a park or the beach where it could become a safety issue — and where someone could video it. I know, some parents advocate for sexual abstinence. I’m more realistic.

The bottom line is that many teens are having sex in high school (and sometimes even in middle school). It’s just a matter where they are having sex and whether they admit it to their parents.

What are your thoughts on letting your teens have sex in your home? How would you react if you found out it had happened?

Helpful tips when shopping for your college freshman.

August 17, 2017 / mominthesprings / 0 Comments

Seems like yesterday but, it’s only been a year since we started shopping for Olivia’s college stuff. I knew it was going to be overwhelming, so I decided I had to do whatever I could to make it less stressful. How bad could it be? How expensive could it be? Answer: very expensive. So if you are shopping for your son’s or daughter’s dorm here are some helpful tips to get you through college move in day.

Make a list of what items your teen needs for college.
Sit down with your teen and set deadlines on what needs to get done and bought by what date.
Go over the list with your teen and make sure they approve and the list is complete.
Go online or into a store to shop for the one area you are focusing on such as the bedroom or desk, bathroom etc..
Focus on a different area until you are done with the entire dorm room or apartment.
Save some items for when you get to school. You may not want to lug a new TV or other big items with you if you are driving or flying. It’s better to buy the big stuff once you get to school.
Super Walmart is your best friend as is Bed Bath and Beyond! Your teen does not need top of the line products for college! You can pre-order everything in your hometown and pick it up at the store near campus.
Make sure you son/daughter has his or her medical insurance card in case they get sick, or for any emergency.
I know many colleges and universities have a medical clinic on campus which is great, but if your child doesn’t want to go to the clinic, I recommend a CVS Minute Clinic which is usually near campus. At CVS, you can see a doctor or nurse practitioner and get your prescriptions at the same time.
Books can be bought on Amazon to help save money. Not all classes make the books available on Amazon, but if you can save on one or two books it will be a worthwhile shopping experience.,

Now, once your son or daughter lives off campus in an apartment, that’s another shopping adventure!

Here are some more helpful hints….

Shop for each room separately (bathroom, kitchen, living room etc.) like you did for the dorm.
Pick appliances and accessories that stand out so no one else can mistake it for theirs. Olivia chose a Tiffany blue color for her pots and pans and cooking utensils.
Wait to buy some supplies for the apartment until you get there so you can take measurements and know exactly what you really need and the right size.
If there is a dollar store near campus, introduce your child to it!! Dollar stores sell a lot of what college students need for a $1! Dollar Tree allows you to order online and have items delivered to your store of choice.

Here’s an overall tip. If your son or daughter wants college gear, online stores like Fanatics.com carry a great assortment and will ship to campuses. Here’s a link to Fanatics College Hot New Products

Good luck with your college student and Happy Shopping! If you have any tips, please share with other parents!!

Why mothers of teenagers worry so much

August 16, 2017 / raisingteensblogger (Cindy) / 0 Comments

I am on the phone with the mother of a three-year-old when she tells me that her son wants to play with her keys all the time. “I’m worried that maybe he doesn’t have enough toys,” she says. I suppress a laugh when she tells me this because I’m quite sure her toddler has plenty of toys but prefers the keys. I’m also quite sure that worrying over his play choices is the beginning of a long list of things this mother will fret about.

In most households, mom is the designated worrier. From the day a mother holds her little bundle of joy, the worrying begins, as does the expenditure of emotional energy on concerns that will seem both deranged and justified.

The worrying manifests in ways unimaginable to our former selves, and turn us into people we don’t recognize. As our children grow, so does the list of things we moms obsess about. When are children are young, we worry about school. Is my child making friends? Does he have a learning disability? Is he reading on grade level? These questions become the topic of conversation with friends, family and other mothers. Each Facebook post by another parent raises questions about our own child’s progress.

But it’s the tween and teen years that send our anxiety into overdrive. Along with adolescence comes drama. As mothers, we must decipher between real problems and normal teenage behavior. We worry about our teenagers’ choice of friends, whether they are lying about their whereabouts, whether their grades are good enough to get into college, whether mental health issues are a concern or just normal teenage moodiness. Of course, we worry about the mundane behavior too — boys spending too much time playing video games and girls being left out.

As the new school year kicks in, the typical threats that our parents agonized about — sex, drugs and alcohol — still are top of mind, but now there are additional concerns because of technology, higher academic pressures and gun violence. Each time we listen to the news, we learn more about cyberbullying, distracted driving, sexting and sex offenders using social networking sites — contemporary risks that scare the heck out of us. Social media posts about teen suicide or young drivers killed while texting and driving send our anxiety soaring. For some of us, high school is as nerve wracking for us as it is for our teens.

Now as Labor Day approaches, many moms are confronting the college drop off, an experience fraught with panic. Our minds are racing with questions such as …Will my teen ever wash his bedsheets or do his laundry? We also wonder about bigger concerns such as…Does my teen understand the risks of binge drinking or the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases? Does my teen know the difference between consensual sex and assault?

Social media feeds our natural inclination to fret. As one mom said to me: “You go on the Internet, and it fuels your fears when you see images and read posts of all the stuff that is happening.”

In his book Worried All the Time: Overparenting in an Age of Anxiety and How to Stop It, child and family therapist David Anderegg makes the case that today’s parents are taking worrying to an unhealthy extreme. He argues that they worry too much about the everyday aspects of parenting, and says good parenting is about moderation and empathy.

To be fair, it is not just mothers who worry about their kids. Of course, fathers worry too. However, mothers seem to carry more of the emotional burden. In most households, we still are the primary caregiver, the parent who stresses about the logistics and the gender that most often gets judged over our parental decisions.

As my two older children leave for college, I want them to be independent, to make wise decisions and to function on their own without my help. I know as a parent, I can try to keep my teenagers safe, healthy and on a path toward total independence. But it’s really in their hands. At some point, I will have to stop worrying, but for now, I just don’t think I can. I have gotten pretty darn comfortable with being mom the worrier.

How a mom got her teenagers to give up sugar

August 7, 2017 / raisingteensblogger (Cindy) / 0 Comments

Raquel and I can’t imagine completely removing sugar from our teenagers’ diets. So, when Wendy Dessler told us she had done just that – and had been successful – we wanted to know more about how, when, where and why she pulled off this amazing feat.

You are going to love learning more of the details of how and why this mom got her family to give up sugar. I think you will be just as awed by her as we were.

By Wendy Dessler

I admit it. When my three kids were toddlers I was much more concerned with their happiness than their health. I thought they were just as cute as they could be with ice cream on their faces and lollypops dripping down their chubby little hands.

They got a little older and we signed them up for dance class and soccer. I thought my little girl looked so precious when I bought the latest dance costumes at Just For Kix and they did just fine if they did still have a little baby fat.

Then I began to see things a bit differently. People started making comments about how my boys should go out for football. I live in the south where “not so nice” things are said in code.

Your boys should go out for football is code for “Dang that is one big kid!” (To which I replied, “Bless your heart!” You can figure out what that is code for)

That’s when I began to pay attention to what they were eating.

By the time they were teenagers, watching them eat was a full-time job. If you don’t know, teenagers require more food than other people and most large animals. They normally eat 3 meals per day and 2 snacks. The snacks last roughly 3 hours each.

I finally decided to put the brakes on sugar when I watched my 15-year-old son pour 1/4 cup of sugar on his Frosted Flakes.

Tip # 1 – Tell them the score.

I have an announcement!

So the night came when I called the family together and made the big announcement. We were going sugar-free.

First, they looked at me and wondered what those strange sounds were coming from my mouth. Then when they understood, they laughed and laughed.

The next day when they came home from school they walked through the newly stocked kitchen that was filled with the freshest fruits and the most beautiful veggie trays nestled between cases of sparkling clear water in the fridge.

Instead of the oohs and aahs I was expecting I heard a chorus of “Mom! There is nothing to eat!”

Tip # 2 – Explain what they are feeling

The terror

Having teenagers is difficult at its best.

I believe that the word “teenager” translates to “mood swings” in some societies.

As their bodies began to adjust to having less sugar, their moods changed – a lot. They would be laughing one minute then slamming doors the next. I really couldn’t tell if it was just teen stuff or if it was the sugar crash. I learned that if the doors they were slamming were cabinet doors, it was probably the sugar.

At first, they would still eat sugar when they left home. But soon something great started to happen. With a little pointing from their father and I, they started noticing nicer skin and fewer headaches.

My youngest son had always been bothered with constipation, suddenly was feeling better. They started reaching for the water without fuss and opting for air popped popcorn instead of snack cakes. Soon they were doing great all by themselves.

By then, I was craving sugar so bad I was dreaming about it.

Tip # 3 – Lead, Follow, or Get Out Of The Way

Cheat carefully

If you force your teens to go sugar-free, do not think you can hide anything.

They can smell the sugar you put in your coffee 4 hours before they got home. They are like a cocker spaniel. You can shove a piece of candy in your pocket, sneak off to the bathroom, unwrap it at a snail’s pace with the shower running and when you open the door, they are standing there saying: “You have candy?”

Admit to yourself that everyone needs a treat from time to time and order some really good sugar-free candy online so you can all have a few pieces from time to time.

Challenges

Before you begin this journey, you must accept that it is a marathon, not a sprint. This is a long-term challenge which does not have an “ending”. You will face challenges. When my son had his 15th birthday party, he was fine with a tray of sugar-free brownies with whipped cream, nuts, fruits, and candies (all sugar-free without their knowledge) on the side. The kids could make their own treats. But honestly? If you have ever been in a room full of teen boys, you know they inhale food and rarely know how it tastes. The hardest part is keeping them from eating the plates.

When my daughter was turning 14, it was a different story. It was more about the looks, the coolness and it had to be special. For her, I cut the center of a watermelon and shaped it like a tall cake. The “icing” was sugar-free whipped cream and I decorated it with berries and chopped nuts. You can get the recipe here. It was so pretty and so special that she didn’t care that it was not cake. As a matter of fact, she bragged to her friends that she had given up sugar because it was so bad for her skin.

Risk takers

Taking risks, pushing the boundaries, and bending the rules are part of being a teenager. This is the time when they are about to step out on their own. You have told them all their lives not to smoke or drink. This is when they will try a sip or a puff and if you did it right, will feel the pangs of guilt for it. But they will do it. Because they have to learn to fly. You did it, I did it, and they will do it. So it will be with the sugar battle. You will remove the temptation, offer a better solution, and plant the seeds. They will stand, they will fall, but they will get back up. They will go into adulthood with the foundation of a healthy diet.

To me, that is a success.

Wendy Dessler is a super-connector with ManageBacklinks.io which helps businesses with building their audience online through outreach, partnerships, and networking. She does that in her spare time, when she is not being a personal chef or personal assistant to her two children.

The teenage son haircut struggle..It’s real.

August 3, 2017 / mominthesprings / 0 Comments

My son Matthew has beautiful curly wavy hair. When it is cut, it looks so good and makes him look so handsome. However, to get him to get a haircut is torture for both of us. The constant back and forth and mother-son bickering is awful.

I just don’t understand why there is a struggle every time I ask him to get a haircut. I even compromised and said he could just get his hair “trimmed.” I was desperate. He still refused.

Recently, I texted him about getting a haircut and as you can see I didn’t win. I guess I should be grateful that at least he will get his haircut before school starts

Sometimes I wonder if my son’s resistance is because how he looks and how he dresses represents his identity and that is the one thing he would like to control or have a say in. Look, I get it, for teens, how you look should be up to you and your appearance is your choice, but I also think you mom or dad should have a little say in it, right?

I am curious to find out if any other parents have had the same struggle. If so, how have you resolved the haircut battle?

NPR highlights RaisingTeensBlog

July 26, 2017 / raisingteensblogger (Cindy) / 0 Comments

Just in case our blog readers missed it, RaisingTeensBlog.com was featured on NPR. Very exciting for us!

We are posting the link. The topic was how parents of teens often need a place to turn to for support as much or more than parents of toddles. Click here for the article!

As our site grows, we want to make sure we are providing the content you want and need. PLEASE tell us what issues you are grappling with right now. Also, let us know if there are topics you would like to read more about. Looking forward to interacting with all of you!

-Cindy and Raquel

Raising Teens

A site for parents of teens striving for sanity