Honda 367

As I see some posts on the topic of high school, I was thinking about this. My son is a senior and will be gone next Fall in less than 1 year. With some trepidation, I thought this might be interesting as we share what we think can contribute to positive experience for both parents and teenage kids. I think we can share from our own experience as a teenager as well as from being parents.

ralper

John,

My oldest son is a senior in high school and will be gone to college next year too. This should be an interesting topic.

I think the big challenge for us has been to determine how much freedom to give him and at the same time how to get him to continue to live up to his responsibilities. So far, without really knowing a formula we've managed. I know we are learning as we go.

dlq04

Be a good role model. Focus on the positive, no matter how much trouble they give you - and some will give you a lot more headaches than others. Communicate, communicate, communicate - it's a lot easier to say than to do but you can't give up. Ten years later they will swear you changed but we alll know who really changed.

WhiteS2k

All very good points: be positive, communicate (by that, I mean listen, really listen). Trust your children but give them guidance.

Kyras

I/we have an 18 year-old daughter, who moved into an apt. near her college in July and a 17 year-old son. I don't know the key but we sure have it. We all get along great and don't have any big problems. I don't want to step on any toes here, but we think part of the reason we've had smooth sailing is that I've been home with them since they were born. It makes it much easier in the home when there isn't the stress of two working parents trying to cover all the bases. The kids have been our priority in life since they were born. Our biggest problem is missing our daughter who is 90 miles away.

Legal Bill

Talk to them like they are adults. They are having all sorts of grown-up problems now. Try to keep that in mind. Some kids are a lot harder to guide than others. Maybe your kids are fine, but look out for warning signs. All kids want their independance, but be on your guard for secretive behavior. This is especially true if you previously had an open relationship with your child. The most likely reason for sudden distance or evasiveness is that your child is doing something he knows in his heart to be wrong. Stay involved, stay concerned, do whatever you can. But don't let it make you crazy.

Honda 367

Thanks everyone! I think it is great that everyone contributed on this topic. This is still an on going process for us as our kids grow up. Since my son is the only child, I know I am going to miss him terribly. My wife will miss him even more as she homeschooled him since he was a 3rd grader. With only 3 of us, we are basically like Mom and two boys. I want so much for us to see our relationship blossom even more wonderfully in the years to come. I don't know when people start to have major problems with their kids. I know I had mine when I got married.