So This Is Adolescence

Dear Parent,

No matter how you stack them, these ingredients can help to soothe the frayed nerves of an attachment challenged, easily-tilted teenager: 

• Blast some Harry Styles, Taylor Swift, or Olivia Rodrigo for 30 minutes.
• Tell stupid knock-knock jokes for no reason.
• Make a surprise lime sherbet smoothie or peanut butter chocolate chip milkshake.
• Find things to complement all day long.
• Get into a rousing video game tournament.
• Announce this a nag free weekend.
• Take on one of your teen's regular chores today, as a gift.
• Check out a new clothing store for a small amount of teen, retail therapy. Self-preservation--set the bottom line before you go in. For dramatic effect, break your own bottom line if you can afford it.
• Bake some cookies just for wolfing.
• Take a trip to spend that allowance money.
• Encourage friend-overs.
• Ask for some advice on how to put on eye shadow.  Let your teen make you up.
• Shoot some hoops, toss a football, or go hit some balls, baseballs or golf balls.  Maybe kick around a soccer ball.
• Go to a hobby store and select a project to make.
• Play a game of cards or some other game you really don't enjoy but your teen does.
• Put together a model.
• Buy a movie.  Go to the movies.
• Give up the remote for an hour or so.
• Pop the corn and sprinkle it with something yummy, different, gooey or chewy. 

Teens appreciate novelty.

Love matters,

Ce

P.S. Check out the Love Matters Parenting Society membership for more support.