Crazy teenagers & desperate parents

Every parents dream is to watch their little ones grow up into responsible citizens; children who will pass through every phase of life from toddlerhood to their teenage years to when they are ready to start families of their own. However, there comes a point in a child’s life where they become rebellious. Well at least some kids! Parenting becomes ten times as hard when a child becomes uncooperative. Teenagers gone wild is so common that even the toughest of parents gets desperate and confused about what to do. It is kind of, like a phase they go through; some grow out of it but others sadly don’t. Drinking, smoking, partying night after night and when it’s really bad, drugs come into play, and these are some of the things a typical rebellious teenager will do. The main door is no longer an exit and they would rather use their bedroom window at weird hours as a passage to whatever mischief awaits outside the cocoon of their homes. School is secondary and in most cases classes are not attended. When they do attend, they are always in trouble for doing everything they are not supposed to do. What causes this outrageous behaviour? Some have blamed it on bad parenting. Others blame it on peer pressure. The thing with peer pressure is no matter how much some parents tell themselves that another kid spoiled theirs, is not really true. Some kids will do anything to fit in with what they think is cool. In all honesty, no one can force another kid to drink or smoke or do drugs or run away from home. If the kid has no will to get into anything of the sort then they will not indulge. It is not right for parents to quickly blame someone else’s kid for their own children’s mishaps since every person is responsible for their actions. Rebellious teens shouldn’t be judged because that doesn’t help their situation. If anything, it worsens it. Some of these kids come from really messed up homes and end up living life through example. With an alcoholic mother and abusive father what can be expected of a child whose environment is anything but responsible? Kids who do not feel loved at home seek comfort elsewhere. Some children may not wish to live on the wild side of life but if their parents act more like prison guards then there you have it. Why raise a child as though they were soldiers or worse, cons? Building a loving and open relationship with them can save a lot of heartache. It encourages them to open up to parents hence valuing their parents’ advice. It is imperative to be as understanding as possible. Communication is important as opposed to being judgmental or calling them worthless delinquents. Showing a child how much you love them regardless of what they do and that you are willing to be there for them and help them through any situation is a great way to leak some light into their hearts. It is the responsibility of the parents to put them back on track. Parents are not supposed to give up on their children especially when they are still in fact, children. Some feel they have a reputation to uphold and do not want to be associated with a rogue for a child but even when out keeping up appearances, that rogue will still be theirs. Money comes and goes, friends come and go, husbands and wives come and go but not children. Kids are for life, insubordinate or not. Pray for strength and wisdom on how to tackle the situation should it ever occur. rachelgaruka@yahoo.co.uk