It can be difficult to know how to best respond to the challenges teens present us. Teens can challenge us by arguing, ignoring, or otherwise make our life difficult. How can we respond to strengthen, instead of weaken, our relationship? We tend to respond in one of two ways: as a Pacer or a wagon. Listen the episode to understand what I mean.
In short, the antidote for teens’ challenges is to:


1. STOP
2. FOCUS
3. JOIN
We have to match them step for step. Until we stop and focus we can’t see what step we need to match. When we do this we create a rhythm and tone that joins us to the teen in a way that can impact them and us.
I don’t mean to make this sound easy. It’s not. To stop and focus takes tremendous effort and selflessness. I means we have to make secondary our own agenda in favor of the teen’s. When we do this we are able to see and address the needs of the teen. It strengthens our relationships with them, a prerequisite for positive change.
Enjoy the episode!

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Andrew :: Aug.20.2008 ::
TeenShift Audio Podcasts, Parenting teens, Educating teens ::
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