Parents do you support your teen's activities?  You may not be a big fan of football, but your teenage son may have what it takes to be an all-star.  Support him even if you don't understand the sport or watch it!

Teens need all the support they can get these days.  Unsupportive parents send the message "I don't love you or I don't care" to teens when they don't show an interest in their activities or put them down for their choice.  This can do more damage than you realize.

Teens who play sports keep out of trouble because they're too busy practicing for the big game or their competition.  It doesn't matter what sport they play as long as they're happy.  You may not like track and field but your teen does that's all that matters.

FYI:  Your teen won't stay a teenager forever and soon will leave for college.  Your teen may receive a full scholarship or partial scholarships to the college of their choice.  This will help offset the cost of tuition, room, and board.  Every little bit helps!

Playing a sport means that fundraising is inevitable.  If you can take a box or two of candy bars with you to work then do it.  If not, help your teen figure out a way to sell the candy bars.  There's always the good ol' going door-to-door approach or calling family and friends to help out.  Social media is really big.  Post something on your Facebook page about your teen selling candy bars.  You never know who'll want to help out.

Sports teach teen about discipline and how to focus.  There's nothing wrong with this.  Who knows, you may see a change in your teen because they're playing a sport.  Maybe they're more cooperative and respectful.  Perhaps they're offering to do chores (if they don't already) around the hours.  They'll have to show their coach and teammates respect otherwise they'll be kicked off the team.  Of course, teens need to respect themselves before they'll be able to truly respect others.

Remember that your child came from you and share your DNA but may not share your interests.  Let them chose their own activities.  When they do, show your support by being happy for them and showing up at games and or competitions.  It will mean the world to them that you're in the stands cheering them onto victory.

Parents, do you have a rebellious teen?  Were you rebellious as a teenager?  Remember when you were rebelling against your parents or the system.  Your teen may be doing the same as you did 20 years ago.  Why is your teen rebelling?  Could it be the home environment is unstable?  Is she exercising her independence?  What about testing your patience?  Whatever the reason your teen is rebelling, go with the flow because this too shall pass!

I couldn't stand my home life because it was very dysfunctional.  I had an abusive, alcoholic father that I wished would go away forever.  Unfortunately, my mom wouldn't divorce him because she was afraid of what he may have done to us if she did.  So I had to be subjected to all of his B.S. which made me one hell of a rebellious teen!

In order to release my pain and anger I smoked, drank, was very outspoken (not in a good way), threatened to run away from home, and hung out with people who were older than me (it helps if you have friends with older brothers and sisters).  My mom smoked and so did half of my family.  What's that saying, "...monkey see, monkey do!"  I figured it was no big deal.  If they could do it, so could I.  If my father found out that I was drinking my response would have been, "...you're a full blown alcoholic lecturing me on the dangers of drinking -- yeah right!  Then I would have stormed off, gotten into my Mustang, and peeled out of the driveway!  God only knows where I would have gone.  All I know is that I couldn't take being in my home environment -- I wanted out!

FYI:  It would have been nice to have had some sort of outlet or someone who I could have spoken with about what was going on within my home.  Unfortunately, I didn't have anyone.

Tips for handling a rebellious teen

1.  Have open communication.  This doesn't mean yelling and screaming.  Let your teen know that you'll have a calm, rational conversation not one that's filled with obscenities and screaming!
2.  Give them an outlet to express themselves such as art, music, working out, biking, hiking, volunteering, sports, or some other activity.
3.  Clean up your act if you're an alcoholic or addicted to some other substance.
4.  Let them speak to a counselor or life coach.  These people can help teens get to the "root" of why they're rebelling.
5.  Let them express themselves through their clothing, hair, etc...You want to make sure they're not going overboard with provocative clothing, but allow them to choose clothing that makes them feel comfortable.

If your home environment is filled with abuse, addiction, and dysfunction, it's a recipe for a rebellious teen.  Your teen probably has a lot of responsibility put on them which includes parenting themselves or young siblings.  They're used to being the parent so of course they're going to rebel if you're lounging around the house with a bottle of whiskey or pills in your hand.  If you clean up your act and start to be the mom or dad, it's normal that they'd rebel against you because they've been the parent all along.  Let them know that you're sorry for everything.  Work together and show each other respect.  With time, you can mend your relationship with your teen.

Your home environment may be loving and supportive, but still have a rebellious teen.  Teens face more pressure today than back in the day.  Make sure you have open communication no matter what comes out of your teen's mouth.  They may be facing issues that they don't know how to handle such as being pregnant, gay/lesbian, feeling like an outcast, being overweight, or some other issue.  They may be unsure how you're going to handle whatever it is they're experiencing this moment.  Be loving and supportive and make it known you'll be there for them no matter what.

You can get through the rebellious teen years.  Make sure you're supportive and let your teen know you love them no matter what.  Your teen won't stay rebellious forever.  Take it with a grain of salt and remember that you were once a teenager!

The recent findings on a study about children and snacking "suggest a possible increase in the severity of the national childhood obesity epidemic.   "Our kids didn't do this to themselves," said Michelle Obama.  Parents, educators and policymakers all hold responsibility for this; Michelle Obama told the School Nutrition Association conference in Washington on Monday."   Read the full article at
Snacks mean U.S. kids moving toward constant eating to learn more.

Parents, you're responsible for the well being of your family.  Does your family have a history of obesity or being overweight?  If they do, make a decision today and do something about it.  It's not too late to make healthy choices that will benefit you and your teens in the long run.

Many parents work one or more jobs and rely on fast food and easy meals.  This is why the fast food drive-thru is usually jammed pack.  Instead of eating fast food, cook healthy meals ahead of time and freeze them.  This is something that could be done on the weekend.  In fact, you could get your teens involved and make it a family event!

Tips to curbing the appetite of teens

1.  Buy healthy foods such as lean meat, fruit, and vegetables.
2.  Pickup nutritious snacks such as granola, nuts, peanut butter, trail mix, dried fruit, and other healthy snacks.
3.  Make sure your teens eat a well-balanced breakfast before they leave for school.
4.  Encourage your teens to drink water instead of soda.  Cut down on the amount of soda you purchase.  Watch out for fruit juices because they're full of sugar and can be worse for your kids than soda.
5.  Don't go to fast food all of the time.  If you do visit fast food restaurants, make healthy choices.  Opt for sauces and salad dressing on the side and check the nutritional content before you make your purchase by visiting your favorite fast food restaurant's website.  Subway is a good choice!

Parents you can help curb the appetite of teens.  If you love your teen, you'll throw out the junk food today and replace it with healthy foods.  Splurging once in awhile is all right.  When you do it every day that becomes a problem.  Step up to the plate and incorporate dietary changes today, tomorrow you and your family will receive a "clean bill of health" from your primary care physician.

Parents do their best to raise their teens with morals, values, and ethics.  What happens when you don't practice what you preach?  For example, if you abhor name calling, but you call someone a name, how is this practicing what you preach?  It's not -- you're being a hypocritic.

Teens are smart enough to recognize that parents may say one thing but mean something else.  You tell your teens to be polite and treat people with respect, but you bad mouth people at the office or online, your spouse, your sibling, or friend.  It doesn't make sense to teens.

Practicing what you preach will show your teens that you "walk your talk."  How will teens respect you if you tell them not to do something but you go ahead and do what you told them not to do?  Teens will lose respect for you because you did the opposite of what you expect them to do.

Like it or not, your teens obseve your actions.  This is how they learn.  If you're not kind to someone, they'll pick up on that and believe they can treat people without respect.  If you're negative all of the time, the negativity will rub off onto them.  Before you know it, you're living in a toxic environment that's not safe for anyone.

Teens need good role models in their life so they'll become upstanding and productive citizens.  Moms and dads, you're responsible for guiding their teens through life and shaping their values system.  Do the best you can -- start by practicing what you preach!

It's no secret that teens grow up faster than previous generations.  Technology moves faster than the speed of light, television shows are more dramatic and steamier, and advertisements for material items bombard teens at every turn.  Being a teen is not like it was back in the day.

Teens still face peer pressure and raging hormones.  However, the game has changed.  Many years ago, teens would never dream of "coming out of the closet."  In fact, some teens stay in the closet because of fear.  What would you do if you teen told you he or she was gay, lesbian, or transgender?  How would you react?  Would you still love you teen?  Would you disown them?  These are questions parents may want to ponder.

Loving your teen no matter what means just that.  You take the good along with the bad and heartbreaking and move forward with your life.  This is probably easier said than done for most parents.  Remember, your teen came through you.  Once they're out in the world all bets are off.  Sure, they share your same DNA, but that doesn't mean they'll be exactly like you.  They are, after all, an individual.

Perhaps your teen has a disability.  With love and support they can lead a normal life and be the best they can be.  In fact, most teens with disabilities do more than healthy teens!  I remember my mom's friend whose son had Cerebral Palsy. He held a job at the age of 16, bought his own van, went to college, got an apartment with a roommate, started his own business, and bought a house.  He's an amazing and inspirational person that helps people like him to succeed in life.  Don't write-off your teens if they have a medical issue.  You'd be surprised at what people can do when they have love and support.

Being a teen today is not like it was when you were a teen.  You had your issues to deal with, we all did, but it's a different world today.  Teens deal with local and world issues.  They are constantly bombarded with images in the media that can make your head spin. Love your teens no matter what because love is what they need the most right now!

Some parents live vicariously through their teens.  Once upon a time, they were the all-star quarterback, head cheerleader, class president, or valedictorian.  Your high school days are over and it's time to move forward with your life.

Parents make the mistake of living through their teens.  Perhaps your dad didn't make the football team.  Now he expects you to be the quarterback, win every game, and go to the state championship.  Unfortunately, you have no interest in sports.  What's a teen to do?  Gently put your parents in their place and remind them high school has been over for them for quite some time.  It's time for your parents to live in the now.

Many teens have parents that want them to have the same dreams and goals as they did.  Here's a fact:  you created your teen that's it.  Once your teen is out all bets are off.  What you share is DNA and perhaps a few characteristics, that's it.  Your teen is an individual with their own mind which they'll use to create their own dreams.  You may think you can influence them, but it will not work.  The outcome is never good.

The fastest way to push your teen away from you is to live vicariously through them.  The past is gone and you can't go back and change it.  What you can do is embrace the present and do your best to make your dreams come true.  You may not be the all-star quarterback or head cheerleader, but you can be the best parent you can be and more!