As another school year gets underway, parents are hearing a cacophony of sentiments from their teens. A high schooler moaning when it’s time to get up for what is actually a ridiculously early time for a high school class: “It’s too early! I need to sleep longer.” A college freshman sobbing into the phone: “I can’t do this. I feel so lost and I am never going to meet people.” A seventh grader stomping in the house, slamming the door and in tears of confusion proclaiming: “All my friends stopped talking to me!” Another year sure to bring new and increasing expectations for teens adapting to inevitable yet daunting developmental growth.
Parents are understandably emotional (worried, anxious, scared, upset, or helpless) in the face of their teens’ distress. It can feel so hard to tolerate seeing our kids........