PARENTING TEENS Tips for Handling Conflict With Care
As kids grow into teens and young adults, family dynamics often change. Gaining more independence naturally becomes their priority, which can lead to more conflicts at home. Whether disagreeing over curfews, arguing about responsibilities, or struggling with differing communication styles, these challenges can feel new to many parents. Conflicts don’t have to create division, though. They can even strengthen your relationship if you handle them with care. Key Strategies for Conflict Resolution Engage in active listening. Sometimes, the best way to avoid or defuse conflict is just to listen. Active listening helps strengthen relationships by showing your teen you care and understand their perspective. Reflect on their feelings to show you’re paying attention (e.g., “It sounds like you’re upset because you feel misunderstood.”). This approach helps teens feel heard and makes it less likely they’ll get defensive. Collaborate on solutions. Instead of imposing rules or decisions on your teen, involve them in finding resolutions. Collaboration and negotiation show their input matters. Open discussions foster mutual respect and help build a
foundation for long-term trust and understanding. When collaborating, ask open-ended questions like, “What do you think would be fair?” or “How can we make this better for everyone?”
Set clear, respectful boundaries. Teens still need structure, but how you enforce boundaries matters. Respect their growing independence by explaining the reasoning behind rules and allowing room for compromise. You can also demonstrate the behavior you expect from your teen by setting and maintaining your boundaries. Modeling appropriate boundary-setting in your interactions shows them how to establish and respect limits in their relationships, which can benefit them long after they leave home. Building Stronger Bonds Through Conflict The teenage years bring rapid changes in how teens relate to their world and families. Conflict is common during this formative period, but it doesn’t have to be a battle — it can be a bridge. With patience, empathy, and the right strategies, you can foster a bond that not only survives the teen years but thrives because of them.
SIMPLE WAYS TO STOP DISTRACTED DRIVING Multitasking Can Wait
Prepare in Advance To set yourself up for a distraction-free drive, prepare beforehand. Get settled before you start driving. If you want cruising music, connect to Bluetooth or find your station before the car starts moving so you don’t spend valuable seconds flipping through channels. Get your GPS going with directions so you aren’t frequently checking your phone while in motion. It’s also wise to get a sense of the weather and any road delays before you leave the house so you can anticipate any alternative routes or delays. Team Up With Passengers If you are carpooling or have a passenger, they can help you take care of any distractions that arise so you can focus on the road. Ask them to take care of navigation, any phone calls or texts, and to be an extra set of eyes. On the flip side, do your best not to create extra distractions if you’re in the passenger seat.
Every second counts when you’re behind the wheel. A quick glance at your phone, finding a new song, or any other momentary distraction could be the difference between a safe trip and a life-altering crash. April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, a crucial reminder that multitasking has no place on the road. Buckle up because this month, we’re sharing three tips to stay focused behind the wheel. Stow Your Phone One of the biggest distractions in a vehicle is your phone, so it’s best to turn it off or place it somewhere out of reach when driving, like your glove compartment. Most devices today have multiple functions to block calls and texts when you’re behind the wheel, delaying the messages until you’ve designated that you’re at a complete stop. If you really need to answer a phone call, you should safely pull over and come to a complete stop. In Texas, it’s illegal to text, read, or write emails while you are driving, and most other states have some kind of distracted driving laws.
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