STEPPARENTS AND TEENAGERS: PART TWO

The Parenting Teens site is a good source of support for any parent of teenagers, and there is a specific section for stepfamilies. Letters describing problems are sent in and answered, there are messages on the parent-to-parent forum, and an archive for stepfamily articles.

Links to many parenting sites are found at Guidance for Parents, and many of these offer guidance in specific areas. Sites offering information or advice about dealing with teenagers are listed at Mental Health Risks for Adolescents.

If parents and stepparents have some idea of what motivates an adolescent's behavior, it is an invaluable aid when dealing with misbehavior. It isn't necessarily a personal reaction to the adults when teens act in a negative way, but instead can be the result of feelings of confusion, generalized anger, or grief. Trying to keep a family strong often seems like a steady uphill course when teenagers are involved, but the end results are worth it. When the clouds finally clear and the children are grown, parents and stepparents may well find that this delightful young adult has become a friend as well as being their child.

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