Ten Tips For a Happy Life With Your Teen - Part 4

Here are tips 7 and 8 in my series of 10 tips for parents of teens

7) Understand Today’s Technology and Let Your Teen Know You Are Watching

I don’t mean that in a creepy way (think Robert De Niro in “Meet the Parents” pointing back and forth at his and Ben Stiller’s eyes).  You should know the passwords to your teen’s accounts and monitor but not spy.  Tell your teen if they post something they wouldn’t want you to see, they probably shouldn’t be posting it at all.  Pictures and comments posted are out there in cyber-world and can’t be “un-seen.” Find out what accounts your teen has besides Facebook.  Are they on Tumblr, Twitter, Ask.fm, Instagram, Vine, Snapchat or others?  Do a search on Google or Bing for your teen’s name (or the handle they use) to find out what else might be online about them.  Talk with your teen about anything that you find that concerns you.

8) Have a “Heart To Heart”

It’s a good idea to check in every once in awhile with your teen (in a calm moment) and ask their opinion of your relationship.  What do they wish was different? What do they like about it? You can also dare to ask their feelings/thoughts that occur just prior to a teen ‘tantrum.” You’d be surprised at what your teen feels comfortable sharing.