Teen Ready to Leave Home
Parenting

Is Your Teen Ready to Leave Home?

 

Over the years, we’ve said many things to our kids…

From “Time to wake up, sweetheart” to “Time for bed.”  From “You lost your first tooth!” to “You lost your homework, again?”  From “Shhh, Mommy’s trying to sleep” to “Shhh, it’s okay, honey.”

The thing we dread saying the most, but the one thing we eventually have to say to our kids, is goodbye. But before saying goodbye to your teen, be sure they are ready by sharing these 3 simple truths with them:

1. They are special:

Filling your child up with encouragement is the best way to create confidence in them for the future.  So write a letter to your teen listing all the special things you love about them.  This way, they are able to take your letter of encouragement with them when it does come time to leave home.  Tell them how wonderful and awesome and unique they are!  Then be sure to share specific things you love about them—such as their kindness towards their younger siblings or their leadership on their baseball team.

2. They are human:

Set your teen up for a win by being sure they know that they are only human.  Change their expectations from being perfect to being their best.  Teach them the importance of self-discipline, of integrity, and of boundaries in relationships.  But above all, prepare them for the ways they will fall short of these ideals—and that it’s okay to mess up as long as they pick themselves up, learn from their mistakes, and keep going!

3. They are loved:

Finally, be sure your teen knows how loved they are by you.  There’s nothing more important than for your teen to know that they will always have someone to count on.  Your teen needs to be able to trust that you’ll answer the phone if they call at midnight from somewhere they don’t want to be.  Your teen needs to be able to trust that you’ll cheer them on in their wins and grieve with them in their losses.  Your teen needs to be able to trust completely in you and your love.

 

But don’t stop the list there!  Check out iMOM’s 10 Life Skills Your Teen Needs Before They Leave Home for more practical things to share with your teens, like how to do laundry and how to write a resume.

 

I’d love for YOU to share with me! Do you have any kids about to leave the nest for the first time?

 

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