“Its My Life!!!!”: What Parents Should Know About Their Teens
by Tiffany N. Smith, LMFT, LPC, NCC

Adolescence is a time when kids are figuring out who they are. They long for more independence and hanging out with the family is the last thing they want to do. Their friends become the center of their world and Mom and Dad move to the end of the list.

There are 3 stages of Adolescence and parents are often shocked to find it happening at such an early stage. Early Adolescence (what media calls Tweens) begins approximately at age 11. Middle Adolescence begins around age 14 and Late Adolescence occurs between the ages of 19-21.

Most parents know when early adolescence begins because they begin to notice their sweet angel become moody and begin testing limits and boundaries of rules they once agreed to. They also may begin to notice how much their peers begin to influence their life as well as their wants and desires. Kids begin to strive to have more independence. Although teens may want more independence, as a parent you get to decide how much they get. Here are some important things to consider when determining what new privileges your teen is ready for.

Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, Email, Myspace, Skype, etc.): It is very important for parents to monitor this closely. Be sure you know the username and passwords to their account. If they refuse to give it to you, you can not only take away their computer, but also contact the companies and have it removed due to them being minors. Social Media can be fun and it is certainly how teens chat these days, but it can also be very dangerous. Adolescents do not have the impulse control that adults do. Making risky decisions is easier when its being done with the click of a mouse or typing of words. There is a lot of bullying that occurs on these sites as well. Not to mention the risk of predators looming in cyberspace. Your teen may yell and scream about you being “all up in my business” but remember you are protecting them. They are still children and need your guidance.

Texting: I hardly hear of any kids who talk on the phone anymore. It is now all through texting. Again that disconnect of face-to-face contact is gone allowing anything to be said without thinking of the ramifications. Not to mention, who is there on the other side. With bullying and sexting, it is important that you know what is going on in their life. Read their texts. If you discover they are deleting texts, attempt to disable the deleting text feature with your cell phone provider or better yet threaten to turn off all texting on their phone. Your kids need to know you are watching them. Fear of getting ”busted” by their parents will help your kids think twice before making poor choices.

Cell Phone/Computer Rules: Lights out means lights out. Adolescents need their sleep, although most of them would rather stay up all night. With computers and cell phones at their bedside, its easy for them to chat online all night long. If your teen has trouble avoiding the late night chats, just have them turn in their phones/laptops at bedtime. They will be nice and safe in your room until morning. They may beg and plead with you that they will control themselves but when that text message bings, they might have a hard time resisting the urge. Better to leave that to your to control.

Video Game/Movie Ratings: Seems the landmark thing kids strive for is watching a Rated R movie or M Videogame. There is a reason these ratings are in place. It is to help parents be able to know (without viewing it themselves) what the content is. I always recommend that parents abide by the rating system. Your kids will have a bundle of reasons on how to make a Mature video game age appropriate. True you can turn off the language and the gore, but the content is still violent and not age appropriate. Set the rules early and stick with them. What Tommy’s family lets him do is not how you determine your rules.

Tiffany Smith is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Professional Counselor, and National Certified Counselor in Flower Mound and is also our Family and Marriage Expert on Flower Mound Family. 

Learn more about Tiffany Smith Counseling, Inc and $25 Off Parenting Consulatation Package Here.

Submit a question to Tiffany Here.

6230 Long Prairie, ste. 200
(in front of Lowe’s)
Flower Mound, TX 75028

972.874.2676

Hours

Mon-Sat. 10a-8p
Sunday 12p-6p

Lone Star Popcorn has been such a hit in Flower Mound that they are now opening a NEW LOCATION in Grapevine Mills Mall!  The store should be open by September 15th and is located 3 doors down from JC Penney, on the same side a Bed, Bath and Beyond.  This means they are currently HIRING ALL POSITIONS! 

They have positions open for full and part time sales associates at the Grapevine store.  There is also a full time cook position at the  Flower Mound store.   Minimum age for all positions is 18.   The cook must be able to quickly unload 1500 lbs of supplies from supplier trucks each week.  (Most of our popcorn, sugar and other ingredients come in 50 lb bags, boxes and containers.)

Please apply, in person, at the Flower Mound location TODAY!

The moment you step into the store you will feel like a child again! The smell is a mix of scrumptious popcorn and favorite childhood candies of yesteryear. You will immediately spot the bins of over 50 different flavors of popcorn — each made from scratch with high-quality ingredients, right there in the store. Will your favorite be Cheddar Cheese, White Cheddar, or Dill Pickle…maybe Cinnamon Toast, Caramel Cashew, Butterfinger or Puppy Chow?

The other three walls of the store are lined with barrels of candy, some you haven’t tasted since childhood. You will find bubble gum by the yard, gummies by the ounce, taffy, lollipops, 21 different colors of M&Ms and much, much more!

Stop in the Flower Mound Store
Today and Apply for a
Super Fun Position!

6230 Long Prairie, ste. 200
(in front of Lowe’s)
Flower Mound, TX 75028

972.874.2676

www.LoneStarPopcorn.com

 We drive by this restaurant ALL the time on I-35.  I’m sure you’ve seen it just off the interstate…if you are heading north on I-35, it will be on the southbound feeder, just before you cross the Lake Lewisville bridge.  It’s one of those places that just looks like it would have awesome, authentic, Texas style BBQ.  Well, I’ve heard that they most certainly do and today’s deal will allow us to all try it for just $10!  With that $10, we will get to munch out on $20 worth of delicioso BBQ!  Remember though, if you buy the deal today, you’ll have to wait until tomorrow to head over to redeem your voucher.

Click to Buy This Great Deal NOW!

Chasin’ Tail BBQ
8656 South Stemmons Freeway
Hickory Creek, TX 75065
(940) 321-0524

Juice in the City is all about saving local AND keeping the local dollars in our own community. As you know, this is the foundation that FlowerMoundFamily.com was built on…we want to give you a source to find all the local businesses that you need for your family, while providing great coupons to help you save money close to your casa.

What a perfect match.

FlowerMoundFamily.com has partnered with JuiceintheCity.com to bring these deals to you. We have joined forces with Juice in the City to help “source” some of the local deals in Denton County. Going forward, we will keep you up-to-date on the hottest new deals that are available and especially those that are sourced by yours truly, FlowerMoundFamily.com!

 Finding quality care for your little ones is not an easy task.  Find quality care that is somewhere that they actually WANT to go is sometimes impossible.  Ladies, Kiddin’ Around in Highland Village is your answer and today’s Juice deal will let you give them a try while making it easy on your pocketbook!  For just $40, you will score an Annual Membership ($30 value) and 10 hours of Playcare ($75 value).  That’s a couple of date nights or solo trips to the mall.  Whatever you have on your list that is better done without the kiddos…qualifies!  This deal is available through Sunday, but go ahead and buy it now so you don’t forget and miss out!

Click to Buy This Great Deal NOW!

Kiddin’ Around - Highland Village
111 Barnett Road
Highland Village, TX 75077
(972)317-1343

Juice in the City is all about saving local AND keeping the local dollars in our own community. As you know, this is the foundation that FlowerMoundFamily.com was built on…we want to give you a source to find all the local businesses that you need for your family, while providing great coupons to help you save money close to your casa.

What a perfect match.

FlowerMoundFamily.com has partnered with JuiceintheCity.com to bring these deals to you. We have joined forces with Juice in the City to help “source” some of the local deals in Denton County. Going forward, we will keep you up-to-date on the hottest new deals that are available and especially those that are sourced by yours truly, FlowerMoundFamily.com!

The first day of school is August 22nd.  Yes, that means that this is your last weekend to get everything finished up and ready to go.  It also happens to be Tax-Free weekend, so shop away!  We have put together this feature with the hopes of giving you some links to the most important things you need to know, along with great savings from local kids activities and businesses in Flower Mound and Highland Village.  We hope everyone has a great year!   

The Art House teaches art classes for kids age 3 years old and up.  Your artist will learn different techniques by creating original pieces of art each week.  Sign up now (by Aug. 27) for Early Bird Special Tuition that is 10% off regular tuition rates!