Remember the days when your children were little and the biggest problems you had were cleaning up messes? That seems very insignificant to a parent who is dealing with a rebellious or defiant teenager. You may be longing for the days when you could pick out your little one's clothes, set up play dates with other good children, and delight in family time spent together. If you feel that you are facing serious problems, there are some things you can do to help your wayward teen.
First, Show An Abundance Of Love To Your Teenager - Teens may not ask for hugs and words of love, but they are desperate for them.
- Be A Constant Presence In Your Child's Life - Even if your child seems to reject hugs, you can always put an arm around a shoulder, mess up his hair in a playful way, and give a hug whenever you can sneak one in. You already know what they enjoy. If they love to play games on their computer, learn how to do that and join them. If your daughter's passion is dance, join a hip hop class with her. The gift of time is very precious.
- Show Trust In Your Child - Your son or daughter is probably feeling like he is worthless. Any chance you get, show him that you trust him and have confidence in him. Set up actual scenarios where she can show you that she can be trusted and acknowledge when she has done demonstrated mature, appropriate behavior. Help her to see that, whether she shines or not, your love is never going to go away or diminish.
Make Sure Your Teenager Understands Consequences - Show your children that, for every action, there is a reaction. Come up with a family plan and then sit down with your child to show her what you expect. Create a contract that both you and your child will sign, and date it. Include expectations and both positive and negative consequences of behavior. Then, when something goes wrong, you don't have to be emotional about the consequence. Instead, you can refer to the contract and remind your child that she understood it before she signed it.
What To Do If Behavior Is Getting Very Extreme - If you realize that your child's actions may lead to legal problems, you have big decisions to make. Even though it may be very difficult for both you or your child, if may be time to "bring in the big guns."
- Involve A Law Enforcement Worker - Remember, police officers are here to help the community in more ways than we can imagine. Consider setting up an appointment with an officer so that one can talk with your child and spell things out very clearly, and maybe even take your child on a trip to a correctional facility.
- Talk To A Bail Bondsman - A bail bondsman will show your child how breaking the law affects the entire family. He'll explain that, while it's true that somebody can bail you out of jail, there are still huge consequences. The person who has broken the law will have to comply with the different acts that the judge sets forth. If the law breaker doesn't comply, the person who paid for the bond will be responsible to pay the entire amount that was set at the beginning. In most cases, the person at fault will have to continue to connect with the bondsman until all obligations have been met. Bail bondsmen often know a great deal about the law and can answer your child's questions, or yours.
Good luck to you. Even though you may be having a rough time, it looks like you are taking the necessary steps to keep your child close to the family and away from situations that have very far-reaching consequences. To learn more, contact a company like Absolute Bail Bonds for more information.
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