It was the worst night of my life. I don't even remember the details of it all, but I do remember lying on the floor with my history book nearby and a towel on my head crying waterfalls. Maybe it was that emotional, hormonal time, but I do remember being completely upset at something tiny. It was so irrelevant that I cannot remember exactly what it was. Everything was a mess and I just needed to cry.
The teen years are an emotional time for your child, and you don't know what to do. If you try to talk to her, she just raises her voice more. If he opens up to you one day, the next day he isn't around. How can you deal gently with your teenager's mood swings and successfully work with them through the trials? While it won't be easy, there are a few things every parent should know when dealing with moody children. The most important thing is knowing your child and knowing which methods may or may not work. Keep moving forward!
1. Give it time
. Some teenagers need time after a tragedy. If you know the specific reason for your teenager's moodiness, give him or her some time alone. Just like you need your own time to calm down and think about the situation, your son or daughter needs that time.
2. Give space
. Space is just as important as time. Most children, when moody or dealing with emotions, want to be alone both physically and mentally. Space could mean a few hours in their room alone or a few days hard at work on individual projects. However your son or daughter focuses, let him or her just go for it.
3. Give attention
. Some teenagers, deep down inside, just want to be noticed. These mood swings may be another sign for a call for help or attention. Sometimes all they want is to be listened to and loved.
4. Give love
. That leads into the next point, which is doing all things with care and support. No matter who is at fault or who is upset, make sure your child knows that he or she is loved. You want to be the one they turn to, so be gentle.
5. Don't try to define
. The first things many parents want to do is define every mood and emotion and try to connect it with specific things. Sometimes girls are simply just moody, and boys may just be in a bad mood. There may not always be some inner reason for every emotion. Teenage years are just a trying time of excessive hormones and overreactions. Let your child work through it.
6. Understand
. A recent quote I just discovered says this: "Saying someone can't be sad because someone else may have it worse is just like saying someone can't be happy because someone else might have it better."
No matter what your child is going through, give it space and time and proceed with caution. Some children may just break out and explain the problem and come to you for help, but it is not too likely. Your child may need attention and love or a good cry and a girl's day out. Maybe he wants to be alone for a while or perhaps he needs advice. It never hurts to ask as long as you do so gently and don't try to prod for more information. Figure out what type of teenager you are dealing with and deal with it in love.
