Your Teenagers
Parents, are you feeling paralyzed by persistent worry? Is your teen shutting you out like a door slamming in a bad sitcom? Do you ever find yourself looking back at your own teenage years, searching for answers that seem to have vanished into thin air? Trust me, you’re not alone! I’m here to help you navigate these concerns and so much more. These days, understanding the adolescent brain is like trying to decode an ancient language—especially since it’s still under construction!
Waking up on time for school or any event is nearly impossible for many teens. Seriously, how many times have you been late for work or an important appointment because of this? If they do manage to rise from the dead—uh, I mean, get up—they shuffle toward the bathroom like a zombie in search of brains, completely oblivious to your carefully planned schedule. It’s enough to make you wonder if they’ve taken a secret course on “How to Test Your Parents’ Patience.”What is up with these kids, though?!!
Well, not much that isn’t also up with us parents—except that our kids “seem” to know a lot more than we did at their age. But let’s be real: just because they can recite every TikTok trend doesn’t mean their brains aren’t still under construction. And trust me, they’d prefer we take a detour around any serious conversations!
For many youngsters these days, brain development is the last thing on their radar. Puberty? Pfft! It’s like they hit that milestone faster than a kid declines a call from your phone while they’re deep into their latest YouTube binge. Seriously, can we get a manual on how to keep up?
Most parents feel like they had it tougher back in their day—like, you know, the classic “walking ten miles to school in the snow” story? “Oh, in my time, this and in my time, that…” Well, I hate to burst your nostalgic bubble, but the truth is, teens today are dealing with a whole lot more than just trudging through snow to feed the chickens at the crack of dawn. I wish I could say they were plopped down in front of VH1 or Yo! MTV Raps for hours, scarfing down breakfast and rushing out the door, mouth full, to meet friends at the beach.
Nah… it’s quite the opposite. Some of them would rather do absolutely nothing! Family outings? Vacation trips? Thanks, but no thanks! They’d much prefer to be glued to the the TV, binge-watching Asian anime, or battling it out on video games. Forget eating out or shopping; they’re busy hogging the family computer or their dreaded cell phones. Your son or daughter spends most of their time locked away in their room as if awaiting sentencing, and heaven forbid you dare to enter! It often feels like there’s nothing you can say to your teen—trust me, I know the feeling.
Chores, homework, cleaning the litter box, walking the dog? Yep, that’s all on us, even after clocking out of our “real” jobs! You’re exhausted and on the verge of throwing in the towel. You’ve become complacent, and it’s embarrassing—no one outside your family has a clue what’s really going on with your kid.
Oh, How I Miss the 80’ and 90’s!
The hours we once spent laughing at Beavis and Butt-Head or dancing to the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air have been replaced by a 24-hour news cycle right in the palm of their hands. No pressure, right? Between screen time, academics, sports, and the endless pressure of social interactions—including bullying and self-esteem issues—teens are under a lot of stress.
What’s worse is the paralyzing anxiety they often don’t talk about, but their bodies sure have plenty to say! I’m not just talking about the usual teenage worries—like whether they’ll make the team or if their crush likes them back. I’m talking about the sheer chaos of the world we live in. Our kids are genuinely freaked out by everything from the latest virus to the unhinged news coverage that feels like a never-ending horror movie.
Kids today are convinced that they—or someone they love—might not make it through the next pestilence. I mean, I don’t remember a time when kids were so preoccupied with their mortality. And let’s be real, the virus isn’t the only thing causing anxiety these days. Between the violence overseas, the threats from dictators, and the realities in our own backyards—like the Isla Vista tragedy and the gang violence we hear about—it's no wonder they’re feeling overwhelmed.
Back in my school days, we had earthquake drills and the classic “stop, drop, and roll.” Remember how exciting it was when someone accidentally pulled the fire alarm? (Spoiler alert: not as exciting for kids today!) Now they have active shooter drills and lockdowns, which have unfortunately become the norm. It’s a lot to handle, I know, but it’s the reality of our world today. We need to prioritize our children’s well-being, especially since teens are at the highest risk for developing mental health disorders, including substance abuse issues.
For information On How Covid-19 has affected the Mental Health of our kids please click below.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/covid-is-driving-a-childrens-mental-health-emergency/