* Note:  my husband tells me that this sounds “preachy.”  He’s probably right so I apologize ahead of time.  It wasn’t intended.

There comes a time in parenting when it seems like nothing you say gets beyond the earlobe of your kids.  That’s right, I’m talking about the teenage years.  Suddenly the child, who you’ve been molding and pushing to go in the right direction, decides they’re fully formed.  You as a parent immediately go from the person who knows everything to the person who doesn’t have a clue.  You go from always being right, to always saying the stupidest things.  You go from the person they always want by their side to the person they’re embarrassed to be seen with.  It’s a tough stage in both your live’s and the likelihood of avoiding it is about as good as me winning last night’s lottery (Hey, you can still hope.)  So, it’s important for you to teach your kids as many important lessons while they still listen.  That’s the reason for this blog.  You’ve got to teach your kids the critical teenage lessons, long before they reach the teenage years, while you’re still their ultimate source of information.  Here are just a few examples:

1.  This is a big one:  You’re driving in your car with your young children.  You see an idiot driving like he’s/she’s an Indy driver.  This is the perfect time to say something like the following:

“That poor guy/girl is willing to give up their entire future just because they think driving is a game!”

You can, and should, use this same type of line every time you see someone do something stupid while driving.

2.  Another good one:  You see a young person with one of those big holes in their ears from piercing.  You could say something like this:

“That poor thing, he doesn’t realize how much that is going to hold him back in life!  He’ll lose the chance to get to know so many people just because his first impression turns them off .”

3.  And yet another one:  You see a young person with a huge tattoo.  Here’s your chance to say:

“Wow, I sure hope they don’t decide they don’t like that pictures!  Just imagine how bad it will be to suffer through having it removed!”

4.  Oh, and one of my personal pet peeves:  You see a young man with his pants “sagging” five inches below his underwear.  This is the perfect time to say:

“That poor kid, he can’t see that wearing his pants like that just makes him look short and stumpy!” Oh, and if he’s wearing a huge oversize shirt you can even add:  “Doesn’t he realize how chubby that makes him look?  Poor thing!”

*NOTE:  Please notice the words “poor things” use these words often when referring to stupid teenage behavior.  This lets your young children realize that you’re not angry about what you see.  (Making an adult angry seems to be something teenagers strive for.)

Examples like these can be pretty effective when used with younger children, and should be used as many times as possible, since in a few years, those same precious children may be the ones you feel sorry for.

** I would love your comments on how you’re preparing, or have prepared, for the teenage years. **