How do you prevent parent burnout with teens?
Most teens can be happy one second, and mean others. As a parent, especially a single parent, it's hard to keep your cool and avoid becoming burnt out. What do you do to prevent burnout?
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Answers ( 1 )
Only somewhat tongue in cheek:
-- Make a "Count-down calendar" and X-off the days until the teen's 18th birthday. Try to do it in front of said teen. Do not explain- they'll figure it out- or not.
-- Purchase extra life insurance on the teen; place policy where you will see it during the day for motivational support; you WILL win!
-- Become friendly with teen and discuss the many things s/he will enjoy soon when they move out. Allow yourself to, gradually, against your better judgment of course, be talked into providing the teen with more adult opportunities such as learning how to cook. Remember not to grin.
-- Promise teen you will sell your car to him or her on the occasion of the 18th birthday for half of NADA price, knocking off fifty bucks for every time s/he washes and vacuums interior of the car, up to once a week. Again, do not grin.
-- Simply go into teen's room, borrow a favored of the teen's shirt, then go into kitchen and make fresh squeezed grape juice. Remember to apologize.
Honestly, you just suck it up and get through it. I mean, I know you've read blogs and books and heard all the Little Mary Sunshine bovine manure about lines of communication and trust and being honest, but, brass tacks time: Suck it up. Do YOUR best- that's all any parent can do. Teens are not rational, barely likeable some days, and love- well, love is a given so why discuss it? Pick your battles, and and let as much of the crap roll off your back as you can- this, too, shall pass, Mom. Eventually. We hope.
It only seems like forever.
And when the teen is gone- move to a smaller house, 'cause they come back.