Homeschool Highschool Podcast Ep 97: Hard Conversations with Homeschool Teens

This week on Homeschool Highschool Podcast Ep 97: Hard Conversations with Homeschool Teens. This post is running concurrently on Ultimate Homeschool Radio Network.

Homeschool Highschool Podcast Ep 97: Hard Conversations with Homeschool Teens

Teens these days hear about things that many of us moms never even knew existed when we were teens. There are so many tough topics out there.

It’s hard having hard conversations with you homeschool teen.

It’s even hard talking about having hard conversations with teens.

Have your teens needed to discuss difficult things like:

Divorce
Abuse
Drug and alcohol abuse
Depression
Suicidal thoughts or self-harm behaviors
Existential crises (*What’s life about, anyway?*)
Gender identity issues
Toxic relationships
Bullying
Body image
Self-esteem
Eating disorders
Sex trafficking

When teens know someone who is experience one of these topics OR if teens themselves are experiencing something like these topics, they need to talk about it with a safe and loving parent.

Remind teens this is a broken world full of broken people and things
Relationship between parent and teen is most important
Listen until they are through talking first without fixing or correcting
Never freak out (recognize and manage your own response and fear)
- Monitor your own feelings
- Give them focused attention and eye contact
- Unconditionally accept your teen
Try different locations for talks one-on-one (driving in a car, going out to lunch)
Be willing to provide support (counseling, for instance)
Help them help their friend, if necessary, but let them know it is not their job to keep their friends safe. If a friend is in danger, you upline (tell parents, etc). Safety is more important than confidentiality.

Even families where none of those topics come up, teens run into tough topics:

at youth group
on a random website
on social media
on the televisions at the local department store

Somethings to say:

That’s really hard.
I really get it.
I’m sorry you’ll get though this.
You will get through this.
What are you going to do? Why will you choose that?
How is that working?

Build them up!

In tough times it is wise to help teens understand themselves better and to talk to themselves better. One of our favorite interviews on the Homeschool Highschool Podcast was this interview with Anita Gibson on how to help teens believe in themselves.

Remember: First, last and always…PRAY!