""Relax about the small things - like hair! I don't care what their hair looks like, or what length it is, as long as it's clean. Take them on errands with you; they always end up talking in the car, and you're giving them life skills. Listen when they want to talk, and talk back in a conversation, not a lecture. If they'll talk to you about Pokémon, they'll also talk to you about the big things, too.""
""I talked to my kids upfront, candidly, about smoking, drugs, drinking, birth control/safe sex, and many other subjects. I found they were more comfortable during those discussions if we were riding in the car, because they didn't have to look at me. We didn't go for a ride specifically to have a conversation, but I'd bring things up in the car depending on what was happening in their lives.""
Parents should prioritize listening, relaxed supervision, and practical life skills during the teenage years. Small appearance choices like hair length are less important than cleanliness and emotional connection. Regular errands and car rides create low-pressure opportunities for conversation and teach life skills. Respond to teen topics as conversations rather than lectures to encourage openness. Address sensitive issues—smoking, drugs, drinking, birth control, and safe sex—directly and candidly. Use car rides when teens may feel more comfortable not making eye contact. Bring up topics organically in response to events in the teen's life rather than staging formal talks.
Read at BuzzFeed
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