I'm about a year-and-a-half away from being the mother of a teen. AHHHHHHH! Other parents tell me to be prepared for my son to turn from sweet to sour, pleasant to dour. Frankly, they're starting to scare the heck out of me. But instead of preparing for the worst, I expect the best by visiting web sites and blogs about parenting teens and learning all I can before my son becomes a teen. Here are a few I like to drop by whenever my friends remind me that 13 isn't that far off around here:
A Parent's Guide to the Teen Brain:http://www.drugfree.org/teenbrain/ The Partnership for a Drug-Free America's valuable but never dry new site sets out to explain why your teen acts the way he or she does. Read and watch videos about typical teen behavior, including the impulsive, rebellious and the sleep deprived kid, and then learn the science behind it. Finally, find out the skills, tools and tips to handle, from picking your battles to talking about drugs and alcohol.
Parenting Teens Online: http://www.parentingteensonline.com/ This information rich site promises to provide the "resources and tools that improve the dialogue and relationship between parents and their teens, so that both can lead happier, healthier, and more productive lives." And when you've got puberty brewing in your house, you can use a lot of that. I've read articles such as "What to Do with That Summer Cash," "When Teens Need a Tutor" and "The Truth About MySpace," among the many available on the site. There are also podcasts, polls, an Ask an Expert Q & A and a blog, written by two parents and their teen daughter.
Teens Today: http://www.onteenstoday.com Created by Gen Y entrepreneur and author Vanessa Van Petten, this down-to-earth site offers a "secret view into the world of the net-generation." Eight teen writers help provide insights into today's teens with great tips such as "Warning Signs Your Teen Does Pot" and "Home Alone Blues: 7 Ways to Beat Teen Boredom." Search by topic or just randomly read the sometimes eye-opening posts about teen life today. (Teens are baiting teachers to get them angry, and then filming them on their cell phones to post on You Tube later. Sigh.)
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