TOP 3 LIFE SKILLS FOR A TEENAGER ON PATH OF BEING A FANTASTIC ADULT!
Posted on September 12, 2016 by Vasudha Jha, One of Thousands of Relationship Coaches on Noomii.
Our dreams for our teenagers reaching for the stars can be our reality. Unless we teach them the top 3 skills they may most dislike us for!
As parents we have lofty dreams for our teenagers when they step into the world of adulthood. Our teenagers will have great relationships, drive safely, have solid financial acumen, be great cooks and many more!!! But dude, let me tell you, no way it is happening till they as parents we teach them some fundamental life skills. My top 3 are:
1. Managing Difficult Conversations:
The process of learning how to have difficult conversations starts when we are young kids. It can only be learnt with parents demonstrating to the kids how it is done. We should be willing to hear out our teenagers when they come to us with something we do not agree with – often they have a goal in mind which may not match ours. How do we reach a compromise without indulging in a solid battle?
It is also very important for parents to stay calm when a teenager raises difficult discussions – teens need to feel that they can talk to us without upsetting us or expecting a scene! That’s important.
2. Resilience:
The ability to deal with failures and set-backs is one of the greatest skills we can cultivate in our lives and that of our teenagers. It is important for our children to be armed with this skill when they move out into the world, and the ONLY way they will learn is when they are allowed to handle their own problems & mess ups. As parents, we want to jump in and protect our children, particularly teenagers. However, it is imperative that we allow them to solve their issues while they know that we are watching their back!
3. Money:
If we want our teenagers to grow up into financially savvy adults, we need to allow them to manage their own money. They can be encouraged not only to make their own money but also budgeting and prudence while spending it. They need to be taught the value of hard work and hard earned money, along with the importance to create long term money goals. One has to display the importance of saving while enjoying any splurging!
The amazing aspect of learning this key skill is that it spills over into other areas of life. A teenager responsible about money will not spend it carelessly or hang out with the wrong crowd. They will be cognizant about making good grades in school as this sense of accountability will permeate into all important aspects of their life!
Also remember that your teenager may not consider you cool as you say no to unnecessary expenses, it should not affect your self-image as a parent. A parent who is only worried about his/her teenager liking them is a parent without a backbone, more like a Jellyfish! As they say, if your children haven’t hated you a few times in their lives, you are not a good parent!!!
