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In
This Issue
Happy 2008! My new years resolution is to be more regular
with this newsletter...if you've missed me I'm sorry (and a
little bit glad :>) I've been very busy and have many new
things to offer to parents of teenagers in the next couple of
weeks and months, so read on, and please stay
tuned!
All the best,
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Observations from the Prevention
World
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 I spoke at a conference for the U.S. Dept of
Education last week and had the privilege to meet Prevention
specialists at secondary schools from across the country.
These recipients of the Grants to Reduce Alcohol Abuse from
the Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools shared resources and
best practices. One best practice all agreed on, is the key
role that parents play. And I was happy to hear the word
"comprehensive" used over and over... everyone recognizes that
the successful programs are those that are comprehensive in
nature, meaning they cross departments, are collaborative in
nature and engage teens, families, schools, and communities at
many levels.
"Comprehensive" is a theme that I feel is essential for
parents to be aware of in their own efforts to keep kids safe
from risky behavior. Parents who are the most successful in
keeping kids from abusing alcohol and drugs are parents who
develop relationships that value open and ongoing
communication, trust and honesty. This requires parents to
invest time to develop knowledge about teenagers' behavior and
to be engaged in their lives on many levels. Parents' efforts
must be comprehensive, too.
Read more about my observations in
this posting; I was impressed with many programs that were
highlighted during the 3 day event, and one that I discuss is
in Helena, Montana. |
Hands-on Parenting vs Helicopter
Parenting
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I observe something interesting in two
articles that I wrote over the last month or so. In one I
speak to the importance of NOT being "helicopter
parents:" parents hover so much they undermine their teen's
ability to develop important skills and vital confidence, and
in the previous
posting I speak to the value of "hands-on" parenting. Does
this sound contradictory to you? It isn't...but it certainly
demonstrates the balance that parents must find between the
two extremes of "hands-off" and "helicoptering." Do you have
trouble finding that balance at times? Join the club.
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Take the "Emotional High
Ground"
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I love this quote from Rae Simpson's Raising
Teens report:
"Frustrating parents, teens want to be with them except
when they don't; teens want their help except when they don't,
and teens behave in excitingly more mature ways - except when
they don't...Throughout, they need parents to remain
available, taking the emotional high ground by providing
opportunities for closeness that teens can sometimes accept
and sometimes reject." That about sums it up, doesn't
it?! |
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Free Tele-seminars
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Parenting Teens? Join me for a Free
tele-seminar on Tuesday, FEB 12 from noon - 1
(et). Click
for info.
Working with parents of teens? Then
you'll want to join my Free tele-seminar for professionals.
Fri. Feb 15, 12 - 1 (et)
3x Tele-seminar program for parents of teens
can be a great way to gain actionable insight in a
time-efficient way
Next program: March 5, 12, 19 noon - 1. $39.00
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| Other Items |
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 This is the time of year many middle schools are
reaching out to the new group of parents coming in next year.
One succesful strategy that the JFK Middle School in Hudson MA
uses annually to demonstrate to parents that they matter, is
their annual mailing of our 28-page booklet Practical
Tips for Parents of Young Teens to these
incoming parents. A free sample is
available for
middle schools; drop me a request by email:
Sue@SueBlaney.com
Do you feel that you must fight against negative
messages in the popular culture as you are raising your teens?
How do you counter the culture in your home? I've received
several interesting posts about this topic and invite you to
share
in this important discussion. Begin by reading Parenting
Teenagers: The Agony and the
Ecstasy.
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