|
||||||||
 |
||||||||
PARENTS TO LOOK AT PRIVACY OF TEENAGERS
Parents often struggle with the boundaries of their teenager's privacy. When a mother is cleaning and arranging teenager's room, the temptation to look at papers or flip through a diary or search under mattress or poke around the closet can be too strong to resist. Your teenager's safety is always the primary issue and concern. Privacy is important. Teens want special space, usually their bedroom, which will reflect their moods, interests, and search for a sense of identity. However parents need to set some guidelines up front. Open communication is always the priority. Respect their privacy as long as it is not harmful, but a sign of trouble and you must take the problem head on, such as:
"My parents don't care about me." - Teenager needs emotional support from their mother as well as father more than from anyone else. If parents are busy ignoring their teenagers, than that can be a serious communications gap.
"I hate myself." – Boys also suffer from depression. They can be sensitive and emotional and depression leads to many problems, which if not taken care of can be devastating.
"I do want to live" - Depression and inferiority complex, unable to compete, unable to meet the expectations of parents etc. lead towards extreme thought of suicide among young boys.
"I love her” – Disturbingly, but your son will go through infatuations and love. Make him understand the differences of infatuation, love and marriage.
"(An older male friend or relative) keeps sexually abusing me." Most abuse occurs at home, occurs more than once, and occurs as a result of the actions of a family member or friend of the family. Boys may have serious reactions of shame, guilt and self-hatred following these episodes.
"I did something shameful". Teenage boys do masturbate and so your son too.
Learn as much as you can so you can recognize the serious problem that probably your teenage is hiding. Spend time alone with your teenager. This will provide opportunities to share, what is actually going on. Remember, teens are scared and they will want to talk to you if they can believe that you will really listen and not judge them harshly. Therefore, you need to be educated about the signs of substance abuse or depression such as marked changes in behavior or mood and/or onset of sleeping or eating disorder.