How to Reconnect With Your Teen

A little vacation or getaway is the perfect opportunity to reconnect with your teen ... and other kids as well!

When the kids are little, you almost look forward to the teenage years. Parenting a baby or toddler is tough. They need you, for everything, all of the time and it can be overwhelming. You long for the days of them being able to do things for themselves and growing into their own independence.

Yet, when it comes, it brings its own challenges. 

Parenting never really gets any easier, it just changes. Teenagers today are faced with insurmountable pressures at school and from their peers. They feel they need to look and act a certain way to fit in, they are inundated with pictures of beautiful people online, with perfect lives that they need to emulate. It can all get too much. The pressures of being a teenager, as well as hormonal changes, can lead to negative behaviors and mood and quite suddenly your once lovely child that needed you, is someone that you don’t quite know how to be around. 

But, having a positive relationship with their parents can help them negotiate their teenage years without issue as well as enriching your own life. Here are some great tips to help you to reconnect with your babies.

Go for a Walk

We complain that our children spend too much time on phones and tablets. But, if we're completely honest, this is something that most of us are guilty of. Try to go on regular family walks and impose a tech ban on this time. Being outdoors, away from real life can sometimes be all it takes to get them to open up to you again.

Start a Hobby Together

Teenagers have a habit of thinking that they are alone in their feelings and that they are the first person to have them. Starting a new hobby, something that you can share and do together is a great way of bridging that gap. You could build a website together or try a new exercise. Try to make it something that neither of you has any experience in so you can have fun learning together.

Take a Break

Taking a vacation is the best way to escape from the real world and leave your troubles behind. Visit Zion National Park Hotel for a relaxing break away from all of your stresses. Spend some time exploring nature, playing games and eating together as a family.

Try to Keep in Touch

The passions, interests and even vocabulary of youth seem to change all of the time, and it’s certainly very different from when you were younger. Try to keep in touch with what your children like and who they are. Ask them about things and show a genuine interest. They’ll love getting to teach you something for a change.

Trust Them

Trust is a big thing for teenagers. Showing that you trust them will help your relationship massively. But, make sure there are clear rules and boundaries and consequences if they break them.

Parenting a teenager can be difficult, there’s no denying that. But, it can also be great fun. As they approach adulthood, family time together will be limited. Enjoy it while you can. 

Today I trusted my son to drive himself and my daughter to homeschool co-op and home!!!