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Resources for Dads of Teenagers

June 18, 2019 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Being a dad is a job that never ends. Every stage of your child’s development brings its own challenges, and you’ll probably never be fully prepared for them. One stage that parents everywhere are holding their breath for is that if the teenage years. This is when your not so little kids reach adolescence, and you have to start rediscovering them all over again. Nevertheless, it’s a phase that will pass, but it’s crucial you develop a trusting relationship with them the best you can. Below are a few resources for dads of teenagers.

Puberty

One of the things you’re going to need to think about is how to support them through puberty phases. This can be a scary time for both you and your teen, so being equipped with the right resources is a must. Every teen experiences puberty differently, meaning there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach.

Parents: You should know that you’re one of the best resources for your kids when it comes to learning about puberty. When talking to them about puberty, remember to start as early as possible, especially before they start reading and seeing information on the internet. For girls, make sure you prep them before their period comes, so they know what to expect. For boys, it may be helpful if you explain to him both about his body and emotional changes.

Books: Aside from sitting down and having the talk with your teens, giving them books to read on puberty could help significantly too. Some helpful books for girls include Period, A Girl’s Guide to Menstruation, and The Period Book. For boys, Secret Men’s Business by John Marsden and What’s Happening to Me? By Alex Frith are options to consider.

Drug Abuse

Although no parent wants to think about their child taking drugs, it’s a reality many are battling with. You can’t be with your kids around the clock, but you can educate them on the drugs out there and the implications of using them.

Online Resources: When it comes to drug abuse, your teens won’t always be forthcoming and tell you that they’re struggling. Start by educating yourself on the signs of drug abuse so you can identify changes in their behavior.

Rehab: You should have knowledge of rehabs near you just in case you ever need it.

If you live in the Georgia area, then look for a drug rehab in Georgia as they can offer personalized treatment and medically assisted detox.

Bullying

Another common challenge that teenagers have to deal with is bullying. If they’re having challenges such as acne, being unusually tall, or having a body odor, for instance, it could cause bullying from other kids.

Therapy: If your teen is a victim of bullying, think about getting them a therapist. They can help with anything from bullying to school problems or anger. In a therapy session, they could end up talking, solve problems, or do activities.

Online Resources: There is a range of online resources you can use to educate yourself about bullying so that you can support your teen. The Bully Project, for instance, has action toolkits and tips for how you can get the school involved. KidsHealth also has extensive information that could help.

5 Strategies For Handling Difficult Teenagers

February 12, 2019 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

The teenage years can be a difficult time for just about anyone, so be prepared for dealing with a lot of ups and downs as a parent during this stage in your child’s life. What you’ll need are strategies that are going to help you better manage and handle stressful situations you encounter with your teen.

It’s in your best interest to educate yourself in advance so that you’re not caught off guard when these moments arise in your home and personal life. Know that you’re not alone and although it may be a challenging time in your life, remember that it’s a temporary phase and won’t last forever.

1. Stay Calm

You getting yourself worked up and acting out in a heated situation with your teenager is only going to make matters worse. Commit to staying calm in the moment and setting boundaries so that your teenager knows that their unruly behavior won’t be tolerated. Keep in mind that you may need to walk away or take a short break to collect yourself before you’re able to address the circumstances at hand.

2. Seek Professional Help

Be mindful that if your child is consistently acting out, there might be a bigger underlying issue going on. It’s a wise idea to research mental health disorders further and consider getting help from a rehabilitation treatment facility such as The Recovery Village if you think this is the reason behind their unpredictable behavior. They have highly skilled and trained professionals on their team who are ready to jump in and help your child who’s struggling.

3. Take Away Their Privileges

Remember that you’re the parent and have the ultimate power in the relationship. Be careful not to let your teenager take this authority away from you. Instead, stand up for yourself when your child is behaving poorly and consider taking away their privileges such as using their phone or the car. Sometimes all they need is to be reminded who is boss and have a little time to think through their actions.

4. Sit Down & Facilitate A Conversation

Another strategy that you should give a try is to sit down and have a conversation with your teenager. Make sure you utilize assertive and effective communication so you can get your points across without being walked all over or yelled at. Get on the same page so that you can better understand where each of you is coming from and focus on problem-solving as a team instead of fighting one another.

5. Show Empathy

All your teenager may be looking for is love and support when they’re difficult to handle. One strategy to consider using is to show empathy for your child and let them know you can relate to where they’re coming from. Be vulnerable and open to sharing a personal story of yours to help them see you genuinely understand their viewpoint or situation they’re facing. This may help them to soften up and share more details with you instead of being angry and closed off.

How To Connect With Your Teenage Kid

October 2, 2018 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Every parent has that fear that when their child gets older that they’ll start to grow apart. This is only natural, and it is something which you’ll be lucky if you can avoid. Of course, there are ways to slow down the process and keep your relationship going strong. This includes things like eating together, having a catch up and much more. Here, we are going to give you some tips on how you can connect with your teenage kid. Keep reading this article to find out more.

Start A New Hobby

Our first tip for connecting with your teenage kid is to start a new hobby together. This doesn’t have to be something extremely active, you could try something like scrapbooking or going to see new movies when they come out. If you start doing something together, it will become a tradition and you can continue to do it together for a long time. Try to come up with an idea for a hobby together or else you might find that your teenager does not seem interested at all.

Eat Together

Families who eat dinner together stay together. Making sure that you sit down for a family meal every night or at least once a week will make your relationship a lot stronger. You should also be sure to eat at the dining table and not on the sofa. Do some research into what would be the best table for your family if you don’t already have one. This article has some useful tips on how to choose a dining table and you can also find some options to purchase using their website if you see something you like. Once that’s sorted, all you need to do is cook a nice meal, get your family around the table and you’ll be spending more time together in no time. This way, you can all talk about your day and catch up on what you have been up to.

Focus On One Child At A Time

If you have a few children, you might find that your teenager feels like you are not focusing your attention on them. This is often why teenagers act out against their parents. If you want to connect with your teenage kid, then you should think about focusing on one child at a time. This is extremely useful if you have a few teenagers and want to give them an equal amount of attention. Choose a different activity based on what each child likes and spend a day with them.

Tell Them You Love Them

This one might seem obvious, but you would actually be surprised by how many parents don’t tell their kids that they love them. Although your teenager might not seem like they care at the time, you are reinforcing the idea that you love them by saying it often will make your relationship stronger. Make sure that they know how much you love them, and you will become closer over time.

Go Shopping With Them

If you want to learn more about your teenager and what they like, then you should take them shopping. This doesn’t mean that you should take them to the shops that you like, let them take the lead and see what they would like to buy. Of course, you’ll need to set a limit on how much you are going to spend but you will start to see what sort of clothes they like, their favorite bands and much more. This can then help you to make conversations about their interests.

Listen To Them

The most important thing that you can do to connect with your teenage child is to listen to them. Just because they are only a teenager doesn’t mean that they don’t have good ideas. They might be crying out for attention from you but if you aren’t there to listen then you won’t be able to help them. Make sure to focus completely on them when they are talking to you and don’t get distracted by your phone or the daily newspaper. Listening is easy so make sure to try it out some time.

Final Verdict

It is important that you connect with your teenage child before they start to grow away from you. They are going to grow up, this is inevitable, but you need to make sure that you are preparing for this. Make sure to take on board the tips that we have covered in this article. Think about organizing a family dinner each night or even once per week if your schedules are really different. You could also consider taking up a new hobby with your child. Once you start paying more attention to your teenager and being proactive about connecting with them, you’ll find that they become more receptive to it. Remember to respect their privacy and never force a conversation on them unless you have to. Once you take on board our tips, you will be well on your way to connecting with your teenage kid.

3 Tips for Raising Teenagers

May 2, 2018 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Raising kids can be difficult, and each stage has its challenges. It can also be one of the most amazing adventures you’ll ever go on as it’s often unpredictable and full of surprises. Raising teenagers, in particular, can be a roller coaster ride depending on their personality type. They’re often going through different physical, mental, and emotional changes which result in them becoming more self-aware. As a parent, this could mean you’re dealing with more affectionate moments or a more withdrawn kid. Whatever the case, there are some things that you can do to prepare and better handle these changes. In light of this, you’re going to find three tips for raising teenage daughters in the following article.

Educate Yourself

Education is key, especially when raising teenagers. Although you were once a teenager, times have changed which means youth culture, peer pressure, and the challenges your child may face are likely different from the ones you did. For this reason, you should try and learn as much as you can about the culture surrounding your child and possible external influences to give you a better understanding of them. Some ways you can better understand the teenage years include educating yourself on the changes they will be going through, so you notice any signs, reading books about teenagers, talking to them often to understand them better, and putting yourself in their shoes to help understand their point of view.

You should also educate yourself on how to help your teenager through certain issues and stresses in their life. School is one of the biggest parts of their life and when it gets to exam time, they’re going to need your support. You could do some reading yourself or provide them with the resources you find that can help them, for example you can learn how to beat exam stress in this article by Daniel Wong or watch some YouTube videos on how to revise properly.

Spend Quality Time Together

Spending time with your teen is important if you want to improve your parent-teen relationship. You may find that sometimes they’d rather hang out with their friends than you, but that shouldn’t stop you from persisting on quality time. You could also think about doing things together in the house on days that you’re both home such as cooking together, watching a film, or having a family games night. Activities like these are usually the cement that helps create a lasting bond. Aside from being a lot of fun, it is also a way to get to know your child better as well as work on your communication with one another.

Lead By Example

Once your child becomes a teenager, they’re old enough to understand what’s going on around them. This means that they can smell hypocrisy from a mile away so practicing what you preach is important. For this reason, it’s key that you try and continuously better yourself and overcome any bad habits you may have that they could pick up such as anger issues, aggressive behavior, not keeping to your word or alcohol addictions. By showing that you understand the problems you may be facing, and tackling them, they will be able to lead by example. If you think you are suffering from an addiction, look into seeking help from an alcohol rehab facility. By dealing with your problems in a mature way you will be able to lead by example on how to take practical steps to better yourself. Nobody is perfect. However, you should do your best to walk the talk.

Raising teenagers isn’t a walk in the park, but it’s possible that looking back on your days as a teenager may help you fill some of the knowledge gaps. Although that may have been a few decades away, some things don’t change such as puberty, a desire to be accepted, and the confusion that often accompanies self-discovery. However, being there as both a parent and a friend may make the journey easier for both you and your kids.

Giving Your Teen Daughter All The Nutrients She Needs To Thrive!

April 22, 2018 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

As a father of two girls, one of which is a teenager, I am always trying to make sure that my teenager is eating healthy and taking in the nutrients that she needs to keep up with the hectic schedule that is her life. This month alone has become even more crazy as she is balancing soccer, track and band competitions. This craziness not only takes a toll on parents like myself, but on top of this it takes a toll on my daughter and many times she is completed wiped out by the end of the week.

When I went to the recent Dad 2.0 Summit I re-connected with my friends at Smarty Pants Vitamins. You might remember that I have mentioned them in the past because I was really impressed with their story but also in how they are creating vitamins that are specifically made for people of all ages.

At the Dad 2.0 Summit I was excited to see that they had recently come out with both a vitamin formula for both Teen Girls and Teen Boys. As I started talking to the representatives from Smarty Pants Vitamins I was impressed to find that the Smarty Pants Vitamins Teen Girl Complete blend provides 19 essential nutrients, lutein and zeaxanthin to help protect her eyes from blue light*, biotin, and omega 3 fish oil, all in one vitamin package that is made to taste great.

What is great about this is that through taking the Smarty Pants Vitamins Teen Girl Complete she can continue to attack the daily schedule that she has for herself without feeling like she has to slow down and on top of this she can safeguard herself for her future as well.

This new Teen Girl Complete vitamin blend is something that gives me peace of mind as a father. I have no qualms at all in giving this to her and as you will see below in the video my daughter made, she likes the vitamin as well!

You can find this great vitamin on Amazon and also through the Smarty Pants Vitamins website!

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3 Reasons to Consider Building Your Teen Their Own Bathroom

April 11, 2018 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

If you are thinking about making improvements to your home this summer, then one project that can be a great idea if you have a teenage son or daughter is putting in their own bathroom. This can be a good modification for a number of reasons, which we’ll go into in this article, and can also be something you can take on either as a project using professionals, or as a DIY job if you are fairly confident when it comes to plumbing and are able to work with things like a toilet rough in dimensions yourself.

Here are three reasons why this kind of project has some serious merits when it comes to improving both your home and your family life!

Manage Mornings Better!

You have probably already noticed this, but teens spend way longer in the bathroom getting ready than children. This can lead to a lot of arguments and can be a real issue if you all need to use the same bathroom at around the same time in the morning before starting your day! If your teen has younger siblings, the bathroom can often be one of the biggest sources of squabbling, and yet all of this can be resolved if your teen has their own bathroom or even a bathroom they share with their brother or sister.

Give Them More Privacy and Independence

If there is one thing that kids really start to value in their teens, it is their privacy, and giving them their own bathroom can certainly give them a lot more of this. You can also help them feel more independent. They can begin to learn how to look after their own home, which prepares them for when they leave for college or move out. Try making one of the conditions of them getting their own bathroom that they must keep it clean themselves. Letting them have a say in how the bathroom is designed or even letting them help with some aspects of building it if you are doing it yourself, such as painting the walls or helping with the tiling, will also teach them skills and make their new bathroom feel like even more of a privilege!

Add Value to Your Home

Your teen probably won’t be living with you for decades to come but adding an extra en-suite bathroom will continue to be useful after they have left home, whether it is to be inherited by their younger siblings as they get older or used for guests. Adding an extra room to your home almost always increases its value, too, and an en-suite bathroom can be a big selling point for a lot of buyers, so you may also find that putting in this bathroom will be a good investment should you wish to sell the house in the future!

These are just three of the reasons to consider adding an en-suite bathroom to your teenager’s bedroom as your next home improvement project!

Raising Teens: How Dads Can Play A Role

May 13, 2015 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Raising Teens: How Dads Can Play A Role

You expect something, they do something else. You ask for an explanation, they ignore you. You say, “You’re not allowed to do this,” they say, “Stop me if you can!”

Teen behavior can be challenging to cope with for parents, and when the defiant ones near the age of 18 or 19, you just can’t bribe them with chocolate anymore, or put them to nap and breathe a sigh of relief.

While adolescents don’t need to be supervised as much as younger kids, fathers need to be physically present and talk to teens about a number of issues.

Rebellion

Society’s expectations of the male gender may lead some boys to engage in rebellion. Teens who are expected to do well at everything, such as relationships, may rebel or withdraw due to being overwhelmed. And boys may become frustrated when the independence they expect isn’t granted.

You might be surprised to discover that your talkative little tike has now become someone who is reluctant to communicate with you. Teen boys like to respond to every question with a few word answers, and attempts to get more information out of them might be dealt with anger or annoyance.

Co-occurring disorders

This is when the teen goes through two different conditions; substance dependence and a mental ailment. This means that a teenage boy suffering from anxiety disorders and depression may also engage in substance abuse; as a result he could be diagnosed with a co-occurring condition during diagnosis for treatment.

Research revealed that teens who suffer from dual diagnosis may be going through the following conditions: high intake of drugs lead to their mental ailment, deviant behavior of friends can have a negative impact on both conditions, and the intention to outperform in activities such as sports can lead to the aggravation of both conditions.

Social media dependency

Social media is a great way for teens to make friends and connect with influencers, but excessive use of this platform can lead to negative consequences. One survey found a positive relationship between teenage social media use and drug abuse. Those who use social media to interact every day are 5 times more likely to take drugs. The data made sense as those exposed to pictures and results are more likely to experiment in teen years.

So regardless of the genes possessed by a teenager, increased social media use with already prevalent peer pressure only increases the pressure to try new things. Apart from drug abuse, constant exposure to adult content may lead teen boys to engage in unprotected sex and other unsafe activity.

What can you do as a father?

There are several steps you can take to help your child overcome teenage woes. For instance, you can educate them about improper social media images, or implement parental controls to ensure your child stays away from inappropriate content.

Treatment options for men or young adults makes it easy for parents to help their children overcome troubles like co-occurring disorders. Self-diagnosis may not work, as it is often challenging to find out the exact cause of substance abuse in a teen who is dually diagnosed. However, a proper treatment center can help them overcome abuse without prescription drugs.

And just like treatment centers, parents can educate children about self-patience and politeness by enrolling them in specialized programs to reduce rebellious behavior.

Talk to Your Teen about Winter Driving #dadchat

September 20, 2013 by dadofdivas 3 Comments

teen driving

Here is a very cool Teen Driving PSA that a friend of mine made a while back. As we start getting ready for winter weather this is so important to share with our kids: