How to handle the Teen emotions

Teen life isn’t like the movies. It’s stressful trying to balance school & homework, plus your family & social life. There’s drama and trauma to work through, too. Going to bed and waking up isn’t always easy. Most of us crave sleep, so we end up neglecting our self-care. That usually brings about a whole lot of stress, for the teens and the adults. They can’t just get up at 6 am to get things done. They have to spend their teen time catching up with the world and getting things done, too.

From starting to go to bed early to eliminating extra stressful activities, here’s 5 things parents of teen girls can do to keep teens on the right track, stay out of teen therapy, and reduce stress for teens and adults.

Start going to bed earlier, taking a break

Teens are creatures of habit. They learn how to manage their time better by setting up routines and days. That’s when they feel productive. The more stress they have to manage at any given time, the more they will avoid that task. They rely on themselves to complete their jobs and take care of the necessary details. As parents, we tend to be the best ones to teach teens how to manage their time and get things done, but many of us want to keep them young and it can become difficult for us to get a nap in to recharge and stay alert enough to teach them about self-care and self-sufficiency.

Teens can be great adults

We can learn a few things from our kids and their ability to adapt and learn to adapt. They are also very resilient and learn to deal with any situation with a positive attitude. Also, they are practical and efficient and with a little bit of guidance, our teens can be great adults. They need a good night’s rest, eat nutritious food, drink plenty of water, get physical exercise, maintain good hygiene, get good sleep, and enjoy activities that nurture them emotionally. A sleep-deprived, negative-thinking teen is very stressed out, and so are the adults around her. By making small changes in their routines, their whole lives can be transformed for the better.

Self-care is necessary

Parenting is hard and requires energy and skill. Let’s choose our parenting styles wisely and give our kids what they need. Self-care is an important skill that every teen should have mastered. Doing so will leave them better prepared to start their adult lives off on the right foot. It’s also a great skill to learn for their personal development and career.

That’s it. That’s all there is to it. Get rid of the distractions, invest time in your child’s health, set up a little routine and good habits, give your child lots of love, show them the love in return, and keep your eye on the prize of learning self-care, good decision making, and all the other good traits you want them to learn as teens. Let them know that you believe in them and are proud of them, and it’ll inspire them to keep going, even when you’re exhausted.

Talk about the possibility of teen depression

Teen girls are often thought of as having a glamorous life because they are excited about starting school or getting ready to start driving. I know that sounds terribly shallow, but it’s the way we see things. We don’t see their struggles and the everyday trials that they must overcome. We forget that most teenage girls are still very insecure about their looks and their popularity, and they can’t seem to have a good day if they think someone is watching.

Many teenage girls feel like failures, and as a parent, it’s our job to keep that from happening. Teen girls can feel very undervalued and lonely when they compare themselves to others. They feel hopeless and are afraid of what the future holds for them.

It’s easy to get lost in the shuffle and forget to step up and take the lead. A high school senior will probably go through 10,000 hall passes before they have their diploma. It’s a lot to manage and a lot to remember. You have to know when to talk and when to walk away and let them handle it on their own.

It can be hard to watch them hurt and be afraid. That’s why we need to be there to reassure them, even if it’s just a simple “It will be okay.” It’s all about balance.

Recognize your teen’s pain

Many times, our daughters are so busy being busy that they don’t pay attention to what’s happening around them. If you’re a busy parent like me, you have to actively try to stop and pay attention to your children’s needs. We have to intentionally check in with them on a regular basis and make sure that they’re okay, even when they don’t want to be bothered. They need us to help them feel loved and appreciated and understand their fears and insecurities.

If they are under stress and in pain, chances are, they are too. Whether it’s a big or small problem, it’s best to let them work through it and keep your distance. If you start acting as a parenting coach, you’ll get in the way of the healing process.

Help your teen

When your daughters are struggling with their self-image and self-confidence, try to help them. Instead of trying to make them feel better, though, try to encourage them to get past the discomfort and worry and self-doubt that causes them pain. They learn so much from parents losses, so ask them to pay attention to what their emotions tell them and not what other people think. You may get frustrated when they can’t hear you, so you stop talking. Discuss it when they’re ready, because you’ll not want to give them any more stuff to worry about. They need to learn how to manage their thoughts and emotions.

Doing this might not be easy for you at first. But remember that you’re doing it for your child’s personal development, not for your own ego. Give yourself the gift of learning how to do this and set your child free to live their life to the fullest.

Almost every teenager feels like a failure at some point. Acknowledge it. Be there for them. And let them figure it out for themselves. They’ll be stronger and more confident in the end.