I just want to give anybody out there that is having troubles with their teenagers and trying a little to get inside their heads an insight to how I do it..... I am definately not saying that I am inside my kids heads but I do have a fairly good relationship with them and a bit of respect from their friends....  I am going to tell you what I think helps with my older kids and how I do it.....

This won't be for everyone but I believe it  helps alot here so here is what I do....

Okay the girls tell me they want to go shopping they are 12 and 13...... to look at clothes... my response okay I will come with you and we can do some shopping to see how we all look.... I do not know how many times I have tried on some silly looking outfit to keep Michaela happy.... Probably the one time that sticks out in my mind is the time they wanted me to try on this pair of in jeans....... mate it was embarrassing..... Tiana said they LOOK great on any one.... I think they call them skinnys which is not a word I would use to describe myself hehe.... Well after much laughing and shhhhhing i had these jeans on and half done up and Geez the moral to this story is skinnys do not look good on anyone hehe.... No really spending time with your teenagers or kids doing what they want to do is sooo important and can make you feel a bit more in tune with them...

To spend time with Aidan is a little harder.... He likes skateboarding so I turn up at the skate park when I am feeling like I want to spend time with him and jump on a skate board with all the kids..... Aidans mates like me and think I am a bit of a dope but in the next breath they tell Aidan I wish my mum was game enough to come down and give it a go they are always telling him how cool they think I am.....

A few other things I find to get your teens to open up to you is the playstation..... I know we all think they should spend less time on them but..... It is something they enjoy doing..... Singstar is the favourite in this house we all get up there and have a great sing and try to beat each others scores...... the kids say shame Mum when they have friends over because I don't care I will make an attempt to belt out any song they want me too (even if its a poor attempt) It is still laughing and shows the kids there is a fun side to me too.... Another thing I used to do alot was go to the park with my older kids Deb reminded me of it the other day...... I went to the park regularly with my kids up until recently because even though they are teenagers and it is not too grown up to play on the swings if I get on they will too.... See I am not to old for the park I LOVE IT and swings......

There are heaps more things you can do with your teenagers to get them to open up..... This is just a few of what we do..... How about you?

Doing things with your teens is just as important as doing it with the younger kids.... Do things they like..... Be open to anything (within reason) they want you to try even if it is not something you usually do...... You Just never know if you do it long enough they might just let their guard down (or you might enjoy it) and invite you into their circle of friends as well......

Being a parent is very hard we all know that....... I think I had kids so I had some one to play with hehe..... I am not saying be their friend and not their parent what I am trying to say is have a healthy balance....... Who knows one day they might need a mate to talk to and you are the only mate around.....

This is just my thoughts and opinions and the way we are choosing to do things here..... Just thought I would put it out for others who might be in need of a way to try to connect with their teen too.....

Have a great day
I might see you are the park hehe
Cheers
Angie