Argue With Your Teenager

Puberty can be a difficult time for children. Not quite kids anymore and not really adolescents they are caught in the middle in type of limbo. It is a sad time for many young people too. Many look back at their childhood and realise that they can never really act the same way yet they look ahead and realise that adolescence will present them with its own peculiar challenges.

Children are reaching adolescence earlier than ever. The World Health Organisation estimates that in developing countries puberty begins about three months earlier every ten years. It is a stage when the maturity gap between girls and boys is quite evident - about two years.

Puberty is a time of immense body changes. The male and sex hormones are different and set off different development in girls and boys. Bodily changes are more evident for girls are accompanied by huge mood swings, which can be disconcerting fro parents. The onset of puberty is not so obvious for boys. The first physical sign boys may notice is the enlargement of the testes, followed by growth of pubic hair. Testosterone, the male hormone, also affects mood swings but it arguably leads to increased energy and boisterousness. Many parents discover that their pre-teen son delights in wrestling with siblings or even his father in what is a sort of test of strength. Paradoxically, many early teen boys need more sleep and eat parents out of house and home.

Pre teens have a need for greater privacy so they spend more and more time in bedrooms, locked in bathrooms or arguing with younger siblings about personal space.

During puberty peers begin to assume increasing importance in young people's lives. Their opinions, their dress and appearance is increasingly influenced by their friends. It can be hurtful for a parent to discover that you are less influential than your child's friends, particularly if you enjoyed a close relationship when they were younger. It is a time when the telephone often becomes usurped, particularly by girls. Incidentally, girls can be quite cruel to each other at this age forming friendship groups along extremely exclusive lines.

It is time for parents to be a little circumspect - a time for guidance and influence rather than control. Make no mistake children during this time of change need their parents more than ever. The way you go about helping them changes - subtle, gentle guidance is often required.

This particular stage provides a window of opportunity for parents. It is a time to help prepare your child for adolescence and even adulthood. It is a time for parents to establish a relationship based on mutual respect and shared interest. And it is the start of an exciting period in your child's development that requires thoughtful and smart parenting.

Michael Grose is The Parent Coach. For seventeen years he has been helping parents deal with the rigours of raising kids and survive!! For information about Michael's Parent Coaching programs or just some fine advice and ideas to help you raise confident kids and resilient teenagers visit http://www.parentingideas.com.au

Do you need help with teenager problems but you're about ready to give up trying? Have you had more than enough of the angry cursing by your child, enough of the hollering at each other; which does no good, enough of receiving just total disrespect from your teen?

Don't quit. There is professional help available at an extremely affordable cost. I'm talking less than you would spend for dinner at a restaurant for two people. I'd like to share with you information about an ebook and an ongoing program we've discovered that can really help the relationship between you and your child improve quickly. I mean days, not weeks and months.

Let me tell you a bit about myself. My wife and I raised 5 children, 4 boys and 1 girl. Yes, we experienced some very significant problems when they were going through their teen years. I'm talking about disrespect, substance abuse, alcohol abuse, even jail time. I wish we had the program that I want to tell you about, then. Our family is all grown up now and everything is fine.

Now let me get to the program we've discovered. Here's a quote from Mark, the creator of this program, "The problem is that most parents of strong-willed, out of control teenagers have tried very hard to regain control -- but with little or no success. And it seems the harder the parent tries, the more the teenager "acts-out." Mark has spent the majority of his adult life preparing to help and actually helping build, or re-build, understanding and respect between parents or guardians and troubled teenagers.

Mark has a Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology and has been employed in the field for almost 20 years. He calls the program, "Online Parent Support" (OPS). It's based on his personal experience in helping teens and parents everywhere.

Here is a list of some of the problems that Mark addresses in his material:

Does your child often:

· lose his temper

· argue with adults

· refuse to comply with rules and requests

· deliberately annoy people

· blame others for his mistakes and misbehavior

Is your child often:

· touchy and easily annoyed by others

· angry and resentful

· spiteful and vindictive

All of the above problems and hundreds more are covered in the OPS program. You'll not only receive Mark's ebook, "My Out-of-Control Teen" (Help for Parents With Strong-Willed, Out-of-Control Kids), you'll also receive live audio recordings, Power Point Presentations, and Videos.

Now here's an additional unexpected feature of the OPS program. You'll also receive Mark's toll free phone number and his cell phone number. You'll be able to get answers and help to solve your specific questions and circumstances.

Needless to say, Mark is very serious about providing this help to you as a caring parent. You owe it to yourself and your child to find out more about the OPS program.

Please don't wait. Everyday that goes by without the knowledge and guidance that is available to you will be harder on both your and your child. Mark also offers a guarantee on his OPS program. Here's what he says in his own words, "If for any reason you aren't thrilled and satisfied with your purchase, just contact me within 365 days (that's right - one year!) and I'll give you a 100% prompt and courteous refund - no questions asked!"

I know you know how important it is to educate yourself on how to be most helpful in guiding your troubled teen in the best direction. There is more information at the website of a friend of mine. Please learn more by checking it out. I believe you'll be glad you did. Take action now.