The Wilder Zone

Parenting Teens: The "I'm Crazier Than You" Method

If you've got teens or pre-teens then you know, or will soon know, that they go through a  period of temporary insanity that typically lasts between 3-6 years. You'll know that your teen has entered this period when you begin to wonder to yourself, or aloud to all who will listen, what the pod people did with your child (think  Invasion of the Body Snatchers).

I went through this period with both of my boys, now 17 & 21, and for me it was, hands-down, the most challenging period of parenting. Give me a toddler I can pick up and move out of harms' way or put in time-out, any day, over a rebellious, arrogant, I-know-everything-and-you-can't-make-me teenager.

This period of insanity can manifest in a variety of ways but often includes power struggles over things like what the teen can or cannot do, or wear, where they can or cannot go, and who they can or cannot spend time with. Typically, your views on these issues, and theirs, will be on completely opposite ends of the spectrum.

If you're tired of the arguments, tired of the endless negotiating they'll inevitably attempt, and tired of feeling as though you're banging your head against a solid brick wall, you might want to try something different. Since chaining them to the wall in the garage or basement until they're 18 is not a viable option, what's a parent to do?

Give the "I'm crazier than you" method a try. (Disclaimer: You must have a fabulous sense of humor and be highly creative for this method to work well.)

It goes like this...let's say you're tired of hearing your teen blast their obnoxious music (can you even call it music?!) loud enough to be heard (and felt) all over the house, and your numerous attempts to reason with them to TURN IT DOWN! are having no effect (this is a period of temporary insanity after all) then instead of making yet another plea for peace and quiet, wait for your teen to have a friend or two over and then pop your favorite opera cd, or show tunes, or big band music into the cd player and crank that volume  up. WAY up.  You can bet you'll get your teen's full attention.

Or...let's suppose that your teen son (who actually has a 26 inch waist) is wearing the waist of his size 36 jeans down around his business and putting three inches of his boxers on display for all to see. Rather than having that argument yet again, show up to pick him up from the mall, dressed just like him! When he protests, mortified in front of his friends, tell him that you wanted to look cool too.

Or...if you've caught your teen smoking and she refuses to quit, yelling, "You can't stop me! I'll just smoke at school! (Yes, most high schools if they don't actually have a designated smoking area, do have an area just off campus where the teens go to smoke) show up at the smoking area during lunch wearing your ratty old bathrobe and fuzzy bunny slippers with your hair in rollers. Tell your daughter you wanted to spend some quality time with her and her friends.

The ways in which you can implement the "I'm crazier than you" method are limited only by your imagination and daring.

KidZui - New Internet Browser for Kids Launching Today

Orignally uploaded by Swansea Photographer

These days even the littlest of tykes are using computers and our kids are often more computer and internet savvy than we are which poses concerns for most parents about their kids' safety when they're online.  Kidzui is an internet browser for kids ages 3-12 that allows access only to content that's been reviewed and approved as safe by teachers and parents.

With over 500,000 websites, pictures and videos it promises to make it possible for  kids to have fun surfing independently and safely. Because Kidzui is also ad-free, there's a low monthly fee for its use (a very small price to pay for a parent's peace of mind), but they're offering a free 30-day trial so you can give it a spin and check it out for yourself.