This week on HSHSP Ep 97: Having Hard Conversations with Your Homeschool Teen.
HSHSP Ep 97: Having Hard Conversations with Your Homeschool Teen
Teens these days hear about things that many of us moms never even knew existed when we were teens. There are so many tough topics out there.
It’s hard having hard conversations with you homeschool teen.
It’s even hard talking about having hard conversations with teens.
Have your teens needed to discuss difficult things like:
- Divorce
- Abuse
- Drug and alcohol abuse
- Depression
- Suicidal thoughts or self-harm behaviors
- Existential crises (*What’s life about, anyway?*)
- Gender identity issues
- Toxic relationships
- Bullying
- Body image
- Self-esteem
- Eating disorders
- Sex trafficking
When teens know someone who is experience one of these topics OR if teens themselves are experiencing something like these topics, they need to talk about it with a safe and loving parent.
- Remind teens this is a broken world full of broken people and things
- Relationship between parent and teen is most important
- Listen until they are through talking first without fixing or correcting
- Never freak out (recognize and manage your own response and fear)
- Monitor your own feelings
- Give them focused attention and eye contact
- Unconditionally accept your teen
- Try different locations for talks one-on-one (driving in a car, going out to lunch)
- Be willing to provide support (counseling, for instance)
- Help them help their friend, if necessary, but let them know it is not their job to keep their friends safe. If a friend is in danger, you upline (tell parents, etc). Safety is more important than confidentiality.
Even families where none of those topics come up, teens run into tough topics:
- at youth group
- on a random website
- on social media
- on the televisions at the local department store
Somethings to say:
- That’s really hard.
- I really get it.
- I’m sorry you’ll get though this.
- You will get through this.
- What are you going to do? Why will you choose that?
- How is that working?
Remember: First, last and always…PRAY!
Remember: The strength of a family is in their unconditional love.
Join Sabrina, Vicki and Kym for a tough discussion on tough discussions. In the meantime, enjoy these posts:
HSHSP Ep 97: Having Hard Conversations with Your Homeschool Teen
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