Tag Archives: growing up

5 Ways To Be Firm But Fair When Your Teen Makes A Mistake

07/27/2023 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

stressed out dad pulling his hair, teenagers, raising kids, growing up

Parents dealing with teen troubles is not new. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that these issues go all the way back to the first men and women who heard their teens slam the cave door after storming off. You expect teens to be moody and difficult, but some teenagers can be worse than others. As they find themselves, they may veer too close to dangerous behavior and make a mistake that could ruin their life before it’s begun. But it doesn’t have to as long as you know how to be firm but fair with your teen when they make a mistake.

Establish Boundaries

As kids grow older, they want more freedom, but you must be careful about how much freedom you allow them. They want to hang out with friends and may go out and come back at unsociable hours. This is nothing to worry about as long as they aren’t getting into trouble. However, it becomes a problem when it affects their school work and health. While you can’t keep them cooped up forever, you can make sure they get their work finished before going out with their friends.

Find The Root of the Issue

Sometimes, it’s not just teenage hormones. Instead, there could be a much deeper problem you need to address, so try to discover why they are acting out and whether you can do anything about it. After your teen has made a mistake, they will be at their most vulnerable, but that might make them more comfortable speaking to you about what has happened and why they did it so you can have some clarity and fix it.

Stick to Your Guns

While you want to be gentle with your teen after they’ve made a mistake, you should still stick to your guns. Don’t change your parenting approach entirely just because they messed up. They might feel bad enough as it is, and the last thing they want is a lecture, but don’t let them use their problems against you to take advantage of them. While they are getting older, they are still your responsibility.

Show Them Support

You will also need to show them support and remind them that you will be there for them no matter what. Depending on what they did, you can use your network or the internet to find legal representation. One example is finding a dedicated lawyer from McCoy & Hiestand to help with driving violations, especially since your teen is such an inexperienced driver and you may need dependable support from professionals.

Let Them Learn From Their Mistakes

If your child is mature enough, they will take this opportunity to learn from their mistake and become better. Many people embrace their missteps as a way of building resilience and showing them the reality of the world. It may take time for them to accept it, but they will become a better person because of it.

Tough Love

Many parents find it tricky to get the balance right between treating their kids well but also ensuring they do not roll over to every demand. How you act after they make a mistake is vital, as it will set the tone and hopefully mean they learn their lesson and start taking themselves and the world more seriously.

Life, Lifestyle, Parenting, Tips

Building A Better Relationship With Your Parents As You All Get Older

04/26/2023 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

As you grow up and start a family of your own, you can find that your relationship with your own parents changes. You may find that you’re less reliant on them than you were when you were younger, and may even experience some challenges as you face your own parenting struggles.

But change doesn’t have to be a bad thing, and getting older gives you a great opportunity to get to know your parents differently, so you can enjoy more quality time together. Learn some of the ways you can build a better relationship with your parents as you get older to help bring a new dynamic to your relationship.

Image Credit: Unsplash under Creative Commons

Resolve issues you’ve been experiencing

Families are complicated, and over time, things can build up between families. You may have even experienced some serious issues that have led to a lack of communication or poor relationships over the years. But if you want to enjoy a relationship with your parents going forward, you may need to take steps to resolve these issues and find a way to forgive and move on. It’s not always easy, but if there’s a chance to save your relationship, it could be worth a try.

Be there to provide help and support

As your parents get older, it’s them that may need taking care of. Being there to provide help and support is important, and whether that’s physical or emotional support, you should pay attention to your parents’ behaviors and ensure that they get the help they need. Now that you’re more self-aware, you may be able to recommend support for issues they might be experiencing such as depression, addiction, or PTSD treatment for veterans. Your parents may be reluctant at first, but you should persevere to help them get the help they need as they get older.

Plan quality time together

Once you have your own children, time spent with your family can often revolve around the kids and keeping them entertained. But if you can, try to spend some quality time with your parents where you can be adults together and make some wonderful memories. This one-on-one time can also help you notice any changes in their health and wellbeing that may need some support, that could go unnoticed in a big family setting.

Spend time enjoying some of their hobbies and interests

Now that they’re no longer taking care of you, time with your parents can be spent enjoying some of their hobbies and interests. Take the time to find out the things that they’re interested in and plan some fun activities together that will help you create some special memories and learn more about your parents.
As we get older, our relationships evolve and change, especially the ones we have with our parents. You may need to learn how to communicate with elderly parents or take on caring responsibilities, but you will also find that your relationship changes in positive ways too as you get to know them in different ways. Focus on building a better relationship with your parents to help you enjoy your time with them, and who knows, they could still have a lot to teach you about your own parenting skills too!

Going Healthy, Health, Parenting

How To Look After Your Children’s Eyesight

02/26/2023 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

As a parent, it’s important to be mindful of your child’s eyesight. Just like their teeth, your eyes are a vulnerable part of the body that if mistreated are going to be damaged over time.

There are many causes for poor eyesight but there are plenty of ways to help ensure your child has a good vision for as long as possible. If you’re already a wearer of glasses or contact lenses, you’ll appreciate how useful it is to have 20/20 vision. With this being said, here are some tips that will help look after your children’s eyesight in the future.

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Minimize device usage for tablets and mobile phones

It seems like all new generations nowadays are growing up with a mobile phone or tablet in their hands. Grateful generations above will appreciate the ability to switch off their electronic devices but for younger generations, it’s not so easy.

It’s useful for a parent to try and minimize screen time and device usage when it comes to their tablets and mobile phones. Too much screen time can do some damage to their eyesight, especially if they’re spending hours on it at a time.

Not only that but if they’re using these devices late at night, their eyes will naturally start straining in order to see the screen. This only gets worse when they’re tired. With that being said, set times in the day or evening when screen time isn’t allowed. It’ll help curb their reliance on these electronics too.

Ensure they’re wearing sunglasses when out and about

When they’re out and about, make sure they’re wearing sunglasses if the sun is shining. As children, they may find themselves looking up at the sky and towards the sun. Obviously, this is dangerous for your eyes as it’s burning away that exposed tissue on the eyes.

For children though, they don’t know that until they’re told not to. Sunglasses can help them enjoy the sunshine without having to worry about damaging their eyesight. It’s also great for helping them avoid squinting when the sun gets too bright. Children’s eyesight is a little more vulnerable, especially when they’re still developing.

Teach young children the importance of eye safety

The importance of eye safety goes beyond just their early years. The potential damage caused now could have a long-lasting effect on their eye health in the future. With that being said, be mindful of young children when it comes to eye safety.

For example, make sure they know to wash out their eyes with sterile water when there’s a potential infection or something has gotten into their eye. Ensure they’re not poking anything into their eye that could cause damage. There are a lot of simple eye safety tips that as an adult, you’d know, but for children, they won’t learn until they’re told.

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Encourage them to let you know if they’re having any trouble with their eyesight or if there is any pain or discomfort within the eye itself.

Get regular opticians checkups

Regular opticians checkups are essential for children and should be introduced from a young age. Just like other healthcare appointments, a trip to Merivale Vision Care is a must. It’s worthwhile getting them used to the opticians from a young age, especially as the experience can be a little daunting.

By providing them with eye care from an early age, it’s helpful to ensure they are being checked over properly and have any potential underlying problems ruled out.

Provide them with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables

Fresh fruit and vegetables are great for eye health and for the little one’s health in general. Make sure you’re incorporating plenty of fruit and vegetables that are known for being good for eyesight. These include:

Carrots
Sweet potatoes
Green leafy vegetables.

The more fruit and veg they have in their diet, the better it’ll be for their health in general so ensure they’re getting their five a day every day.

Be mindful of any changes in their vision

It’s important to be mindful of any changes within their vision. As a parent, it’s easy enough to notice something different in your child’s behavior or mood. This may be done to a problem with their eyesight whether it’s noticeable now or not. Make sure to be mindful and to question if they’re experiencing any pain or sudden change in their eyesight.

Looking after your children’s eyesight is essential so with that being said, be mindful, attentive, and encouraging toward your child’s eyesight this year and beyond.