Teens are filled with worries, and as a mom it can be difficult to know what to do to help them address their concerns so that they can live life without anxiety over inconsequential things. The following is a look at five of the top reasons teens worry, and what a mom can do to help alleviate this stress for teens.
Worry one: Fitting in with peers.
Teens worry like crazy about whether or not they will fit in with their peers. This often leads to negative peer pressure having an easy effect on them, etc. As a mom, one of the things you can do to help your child deal with this fear is first make it easier for them to fit in. help them dress the way they ought to, let them attend the functions other kids are attending, don’t make their curfew hours before anyone else’s etc. However, beyond that, the best way to help teens with their worry of fitting in is to help them build their self-confidence by encouraging them to follow their dreams, and supporting them as they do so.
Worry two: Their future, school, and college.
Next, teens often worry a lot about their future. Are they smart enough? Did they do enough extra curricular activities? Will they get in to the college of their choice? When they get there will they succeed? As a parent, the best way to address these fears and worries is to help them prepare. Let them know that they can do whatever they want, if that means they don’t go to college, support them in it, but help them find an alternative. Help them fill out applications, and make sure they talk to their school counselor, and are doing what needs to be done to get into college, without making them feel a great deal of pressure. Play a supportive role, but a pressuring role.
Worry three: Dating and sex.
Teens worry about dating and sex. They want to be accepted, they want to be wanted, and they want to act on their feelings and hormones without being considered slutty or without giving “it” to the wrong person. As a parent, the best way to help a teen with this worry is to talk to them about it. Be open, discuss your rules and standards, and make sure they know their feelings are normal, and that there are appropriate times and places for expressing those feelings. If they are worried no one likes them, help them find ways to meet people with similar interests, and help them feel happy with who they are, without the need for approval from the opposite sex.
Worry four: Money.
Teens worry about money, often their parent’s financial situation, or what they have and do not have because of it. Educate your teen about the proper management of money, help them practice it so that when they are responsible for their own livelihood, they know how to properly manage money. Education is a huge help.
Worry five: Parental approval.
Show them love, show them approval, reprimand when necessary, but always do it with love.
Parenting viewpoints from parents in the trenches, because parenting doesn’t come with a manual. In addition to