Struggling Teens: Don’t Play the Blame Game

It is all the kids he/she is hanging out with, it is not my teen.  If it weren’t for those bad influences, my child would never act like that – or smoke pot…..

Really – you want to believe that so badly, but in reality if your teen that is making the choice not only to hang with that negative peer group, he/she is also part of it!  So another parent of a teen he/she is hanging with is saying the same thing.

Your teen has choices, he/she is making a choice of who their so-called friends are.  Your teen is making the decision to smoke pot.  Your teen is making a choice to stop studying and heading down a negative path.

It is no different than a parent making a choice to be friends with their neighbor, who may not be the biggest gossip in the town.

If your teen is making bad choices that are escalating to a point that you are no longer able to control him/her, it is time to look at parent choices.  Seeking local therapy, youth groups, outpatient facilities and even looking for help from relatives – exhausting all your local options.

Don’t get stuck in the blame game circle!  It isn’t your fault – parenting is not easy, and we do our best to give our children the best.  Entitlement issues have become a trend of today.

If you come to the conclusion you need residential therapy, do your homework – this is a major decision that is not only financial, it is an emotional one.

Parenting Teens: When Books, DVD’s and Therapy isn’t Working

Don't be a parent in denial.

Your teen or tween is starting to act in ways that are foreign to you.  Whether they are hanging with peers that are less than desirable or starting to fail in school when you know they are more than capable.  They are underachieving, they are good kids making some bad choices and slowly escalating into a person you barely recognize.

Defiance is the tone of your home, and disrespect has become second nature.

First you try therapy or counseling, there has to be something physically wrong.  In most cases, that is not the story.  There usually isn’t a pill to fix a teen that is spiraling out-of-control.

During these therapy sessions, you are gathering and reading as many parenting teen books as possible!  Now you find a DVD that makes promises to turn your teen around in 30 days?!  Really?  Some books are excellent – seriously really good – and can help YOU cope, but what about your teen?  Is it resolving these deeply root issues that are causing this negative behavior pattern?

When books don't help....

No matter – you are desperate and willing to try whatever it takes.  As a responsible parent this is what we have to do.  However don’t allow your emotions to take over as they did in my story.

Are you at your wit’s end?  Even read my book – “Wit’s End!” – but still wondering how to move forward.  Visit www.HelpYourTeens.com and find out more.

Teen Drug Abuse – Teen Help

Drug Addiction Destroys Families

With today’s society, kids have access to many different substances that can be addictive and damaging. If you suspect your child is using drugs or drinking alcohol, please seek help for them as soon as possible. Drug testing is helpful, but not always accurate.  Teen Drug use and Teen Drinking may escalate to addiction.

We get calls constantly, that a child is only smoking pot. Unfortunately in most cases, marijuana can lead to more severe drugs, and marijuana is considered an illegal drug. Smoking marijuana is damaging to the child’s body, brain and behavior. Even though marijuana is not considered a narcotic, most teens are very hooked on it.

Many teens that are on prescribed medications such as Ritalin, Adderall, Strattera, Concerta, Zoloft, Prozac etc. are more at risk when mixing these medications with street drugs. It is critical you speak with your child about this and learn all the side effects.  Educating your child on the potential harm may help them to understand the dangers involved in mixing prescription drugs with street drugs. Awareness is the first step to understanding.

Alcohol is not any different with today’s teens. Like adults, some teens use the substances to escape their problems; however they don’t realize that it is not an escape but rather a deep dark hole. Some teens use substances to “fit in” with the rest of their peers – teen peer pressure. This is when a child really needs to know that they don’t need to “fit in” if it means hurting themselves. Using drug and alcohol is harming them. Especially if a teen is taking prescribed medication (refer to the above paragraph) teen drinking can be harmful. The combination can bring out the worse in a person. Communicating with your teen, as difficult as it can be, is one of the best tools we have.  Even if you think they are not listening, we hope eventually they will hear you.

If your teen is experimenting with this, please step in and get proper help through local resources. If it has extended into an addiction, it is probably time for a Residential Placement. If you feel your child is only experimenting, it is wise to start precautions early. An informed parent is an educated parent.  This can be your life jacket when and if you need the proper intervention.  Always be prepared, it can save you from rash decisions later.

A teen that is just starting to experiment with substance use or starting to become difficult; a solid short term self growth program may be very beneficial for them.  However keep in mind, if this behavior has been escalating over a length of time, the short term program may only serve as a temporary band-aid.

Drugs and Alcoholic usage is definitely a sign that your child needs help. Teen Drug Addiction and Teen Drinking is a serious problem in today’s society; if you suspect your child is using substances, especially if they are on prescribed medications, start seeking local help.  If the local resources become exhausted, and you are still experiencing difficulties, it may be time for the next step; Therapeutic Boarding School or Residential Treatment Center.

Visit www.helpyourteens.com for more valuable information.

March is National Nutrition Month: Great Ways to Celebrate

March is National Nutrition Month, and a great time to focus on your nutritional health. Whether you’re a model eater, or could use some help in the diet department, this month will give you a good opportunity to think more about the food you’re eating. Try these activities, habits, and small changes to celebrate nutrition and food this month.

General

These are ideas you can use all month long.

1. Define good nutrition: Learn about what good nutrition really is.
2. Think about making calories count: Rather than labeling foods good or bad, consider the vitamins, minerals, and fiber available in foods.
3. Always have water available: Make sure that there’s always water ready and waiting for you to drink.
4. Set reasonable goals: Start making small changes you can live with.
5. Be optimistic about food: Think about food as nourishment and fun.
6. Consider supplementing: Although you may be reaching all of your nutritional goals, a vitamin or mineral supplement can help ensure that you’re getting everything you need.
7. Be patient: Instead of settling for food with immediate gratification, take your time and enjoy what you eat.
8. Indulge: Don’t forget to allow yourself to indulge when appropriate.
9. Plan ahead: The more you plan, the better you can control your nutrition.
10. Eat frequently: Becoming a frequent eater will allow you to eat more often in smaller portions.

Activities

Take part in these activities and make nutrition month a fun experience.

1. Take a cooking class: Spend some time properly learning how to prepare foods with a cooking class.
2. Write down everything you eat: This month, take the time to track everything you’re eating, so you get a better idea of what exactly you’re taking in.
3. Join a food club: Have fun with food and friends in a food club.
4. Play with your food: Dress your food up into edible art for a little fun.
5. Watch Super Size Me: Consider how fast food can affect your body with Super Size Me.
6. Join a CSA: Becoming a part of a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) will enable you to eat well and support community farmers.
7. Eat something fresh: If you’ve never tried anything but canned pineapple, try a fresh one.
8. Read about good nutrition: Find books that celebrate healthy nutrition.
9. Visit a farmer’s market: Find fresh, local, and even organic produce and other items at a farmer’s market.
10. Pack a bento box lunch: Have fun with lunch by creating a bento box at least once a week this month.
11. Attend a nutrition class: Learn more about good nutrition with a class.
12. Look at labels: Before you buy or eat food, take a good look at its nutrition facts.
13. Enter a diet contest: Submit a recipe to a contest.
14. Create an emergency food kit: If you’re out and about and become hungry, you’re likely to turn to whatever’s available-make sure you’ve got a healthy food kit ready to go.
15. Go on a picnic: Eat great food in the great outdoors.
16. Visit a farm: See where your food comes from by visiting a farm.
17. Watch Food, Inc.: Learn more about the way your food is made with Food, Inc.
18. Make a healthy menu: Plan meals ahead of time for the entire month, so you’ll have great nutrition all month long.
19. Enter a cooking contest: Participate in a cooking contest in your community.
20. Eat local: Practice sustainability and a connection with your food by eating local.

Shopping

Celebrate nutrition this month by taking these ideas to your grocery store.

1. Buy fresh food: The fresher the food, the more nutritious, so buy as fresh as possible.
2. Try a new grocery store: Get a new perspective on available foods at a new store.
3. Avoid shopping when you’re hungry: Avoid impulse buys by shopping when you’re full and rational.
4. Look for whole foods: Choose simple, whole foods that are the closest to nature for more nutritional bang for your buck.
5. Purchase organic products: Try some organic products, like milk, meat, or produce.
6. Stay away from ingredients you don’t recognize: If you can’t recognize, pronounce, or spell an ingredient, don’t buy it.
7. Stick to the outer aisles: You can find produce, meats, fish, and eggs in the outer aisles of grocery stores.
8. Find produce in season: Get fresher produce by shopping in season.
9. Read labels: Although most foods with great nutrition won’t require labels, be sure to look at the ones that do to be an informed consumer.
10. Don’t buy desserts or munchies: Treats are fine, but make them worth it by making them from scratch yourself.
11. Shop for colorful foods: Get a variety of phytonutrients with colorful produce.
12. Don’t believe everything: “All natural” or “fat free” labels can be deceiving.
13. Write a list out: Before you head to the store, make sure you’ve got a list ready to go.
14. Learn to recognize all forms of sugar: Refined sugar can come in many forms so look for corn sugar, fructose, caramel, syrups, and more.

Eating Out

While you’re dining out, you can use these tips to celebrate nutrition.

1. Visit a new restaurant: Go to a new restaurant you’ve been meaning to check out.
2. Find out how your food is prepared: Consider whether your food is baked, fried, or prepared in another way.
3. Add a new fruit or vegetable to every meal: Try something new each time you cook.
4. Educate yourself before going to a restaurant: Go to the restaurant’s website to learn about the nutrition for the items available on the menu, so you can make a healthy, informed choice.

At Home

Nutrition can take center stage at home with these tips.

1. Make a healthy eating plan: Create a plan for eating a balanced diet at home.
2. Buy a new cookbook: Find a new healthy cookbook to spur interest in new recipes.
3. Get an illustration of the food pyramid: With a food pyramid, you’ll have an easy reminder to eat a balanced diet.
4. Balance it out: Eat a good balance of foods for good nutrition.
5. Practice family mealtime: Eat together, and teach children a healthy attitude toward food.
6. Create a rainbow on your plate: Find a rainbow of foods to make a plate rainbow.
7. Try a new recipe once a week: Find a new recipe to check out each week of National Nutrition Month.
8. Measure with a tablespoon: Instead of a knife, use a tablespoon to measure and spread on condiments.
9. Cook with your kids: Get kids interested in nutrition by having them help you cook.
10. Increase the amount of times you eat at home: At home, you’re better able to control what you’re eating, so aim to increase the frequency of your mealtimes at home.
11. Go meatless once a week: If you’re a big meat eater, consider going meatless at least once a week.
12. Prewash your vegetables: Buy vegetables washed, or wash them when you get home from the grocery store, and you’ll be more likely to grab and go veggies as a snack.

Daily Habits

Try to work these daily habits for good nutrition into your routine this month.

1. Get a better night’s sleep: When you’re well rested, you’re less likely to turn to junk or comfort foods.
2. Find a tip a day: Get a tip a day nutrition calendar, or sign up for email alert every day.
3. Take a vitamin: Make sure you’re reaching all of your nutritional needs with a vitamin supplement.
4. Stick to serving sizes: Read the nutrition facts to find out the proper serving size for the food you’re eating.

Gardening

Put nutrition on your windowsill or in your backyard with gardening.

1. Teach kids about nutrition in the garden: Kids can get an understanding of gardening for health with your help.
2. Start a garden: Plant vegetables, fruits, and herbs, so you can enjoy your very own harvest.
3. Garden with meals in mind: Plant items that can be used over and over again in the meals that you plan to cook.
4. Plant a row for the hungry: Set aside a section of your garden to donate to your local food bank or soup kitchen.

Community

Use these ideas to make food and nutrition a social affair.

1. Explore food science: Learn about the science of food to appreciate it more.
2. Find a new food blog: Check out a new food blog every week this month.
3. Cook for friends: Invite people over to enjoy dinner at your home.
4. Plan a foodie trip: Plan a trip to a fun food festival.
5. Blog about National Nutrition Month: Let others know that you’re celebrating National Nutrition Month by posting about it.
6. Visit festivals: Seek out food, wine, or beer festivals to enjoy more gourmet food.
7. Share recipes: Start a recipe exchange with friends and family.
8. Give away your produce: Share extra produce from your garden.

Exercise

1. Get active once a day: Manage your body weight by being active for an hour every day.
2. Take part in a fun activity: Join a race or adventure dash to get exercise in a fun way.
3. Introduce weight training: Become lean to put your nutrition to good use.
4. Take a walk as a family: Spend time together as a family and get active with a walk around the neighborhood.
5. Meditate: Give yourself time to collect yourself and focus inward with meditation.

Special Contributor:  Roxanne McAnn at  rmcann83@gmail.com

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