10 Things Your Kids Wish You Knew About Them

Note to Parents: (10) Things Your Teen(s) WISH You Knew About Them…

1. It’s easier to open up and talk to you when their thoughts and feelings are being considered too.
2. Your words and conversation(s) mean so much more to them when their words or ideas are NOT ‘shot down’ or dismissed.
3. They REALLY appreciate your OPENness and complete HONESTY with them about YOUR experience(s) as a teenager.
4. NO ONE likes to be judged.
5. Instead of ignoring how they feel, try listening and acknowledging them with a simply head shake of agreement.
6. Sometimes, they just want to be HEARD…if ONLY you would LISTEN…(YOU have a BETTER chance at being heard once they feel that THEY are being heard too!)
7. Understand that you CAN’T take away ALL of life’s pain (even though you have the BEST intentions to try)
8. Trust in the VALUES that you have already taught them. Trust and allow them to make the BEST decision(s) for themselves.
9. Your views of REALity may sometimes differ (and that’s OKAY)…we ALL have to learn sometime!
10. It is COMFORTing to know that you’ll always be there with LOVE and OPEN arms (no matter what).

At Journey Girl, our goal is to present methods of communication that can lead to more satisfying relationships between parents and teens. As a parent, you are welcome to test these methods, and feel free to share the successful results with us and with others. Know that there are NO “quick fixes” or ‘overnight sensations’ when it comes to making progress in communicating with teens. Regardless of their words or actions, your teens are listening to (and watching) the things you say and do. They really do value your beliefs and concerns, whether they tell you or not.

Guest Writer – Andrieka J. Austin

Certified Independent Contractor (CICP) and Founder/Facilitator of Journey Girl (www.journeygirl.org), offering self-emPOWERment and life-skills development for girls and women for living successfully emPOWERed lives.

Her Atlanta-based business offers: workshops, trainings, presentations and consulting services to schools, corporate and social services agencies, professional women’s groups, juvenile justice systems, parents, and non-profit youth groups and organizations around the world.

She is an Author, featured Blogger for blog.journeygirl.org, the voice-over for www.journeygirlatl.wordpress.com (audio blog), an EmPOWERment Contributor for Inspirational Woman Magazine’s online blog, and an engaging, professional Inspirational Speaker.