*This post is made possible with support from the Center for Parent and Teen Communication, part of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. All opinions are my own.
I am the mother of 4 children. My oldest is a teenager, and my youngest is a preschooler. Here’s what I wasn’t prepared for… My teenager’s emotional reactions can be as big and spirited as my preschoolers, but that’s probably a hint he’s hitting a teen milestone.
My teenager just started high school, and the transition has been quite stressful for him. He has had difficulty managing his time and keeping up in all of his classes. Unfortunately, that meant that I needed to step in and put some boundaries and expectations in place… i.e. take away his cell phone and limit his time with friends. So you can probably imagine the tantrum that ensued because, of course, I am ruining his life.
However, I must give my son credit. After some tears, brooding, and probably some not-so-nice things mumbled behind his closed door… He apologized to me. Yep, you read that right. He not only apologized but also admitted that he was overwhelmed and needed help. And I was simultaneously shocked, elated, and humbled. I am not saying he has been a model kid since but, at that moment, we truly hit a new milestone.
Parenting a teen is no easy task, and we truly have to celebrate “milestone” moments like this because it can often feel impossible to get through to your teen. And I don’t know about you, but I am not afraid to admit that I don’t always have the answers. That’s why parents like you and me need access to as many resources as we can get our hands on. And the Center for Parent and Teen Communication is one of those resources.
CPTC understands the challenges of raising teens and wants to ensure parents have the knowledge and skills they need to raise thriving teens. They offer information about teens’ growth and development, communication strategies, emotional health and so much more. And you can sign up for their newsletter to receive CPTC’s 100-word, daily parenting tip newsletter, which I promise is worth the read.
And speaking of milestones, CPTC is celebrating teen milestones through November. These little changes can often go unnoticed, and they want to encourage parents to celebrate their teens. Each milestone is under 100 words so you can read them all at once or just one a day. So take the time to read about these milestones and see if your kiddo has had any of these developmental moments.
