• Communication Tips
• Roots
• Wings
• Silence is NOT Empowerment

Wings

The process of letting them go requires equipping them to fly on their own, one step at a time.

• Be a parent, not a friend. Teens want and need the structure of a parent/child relationship. A firm, loving parent is so much more valuable to a teen than another friend. You can develop a close, trusting relationship and still be the respected authority in your family. This gives teens confidence and assurance as they grow into adulthood themselves.
• Set boundaries…ahead of time. Help them think through the process of setting personal standards so that they can set their own when it’s time.
• Keep it concrete in the early years; describing risk-taking as jumping with a parachute that opens only 85% of the time can be easier to relate to than a philosophical statement.
• Use characters/stories that kids know from TV and movies (it’s easier to talk about a third party when the subject is delicate).