Shawna Partlow

It can be very difficult finding ways to talk effectively with your teen about life, and the consequences to their poor decisions.  They build up walls, think you are against them, “ruining their life” and turn to so called “friends” that give, hmmm...horrible advice, or even turning to a relationship they know will be bad or just to make you angry.  Sometimes you feel no matter what you do or say to try and make it better nothing works!  They still “hate” you and don’t want to listen to anything you say.  You blame yourself for choices they make, thinking, “if I was only a better... mom, dad, aunt, uncle, grandparent this wouldn’t happen.”  

I have walked that painful path as a parent and as a teen mom.   After having my baby I always wanted to talk to teens about the choices and consequences of their decisions as well as to parents on how to talk with their teens not at their teens so those unhealthy life choices are less likely to happen.