The life of a teenager is not always a "Party." They are struggling to become young adults. To make the right and wrong decisions for their own selves.

They are managing school, home life and peer pressures. They deal with the decisions to take drugs, to smoke or to drink alcohol. They make the choices to have sex or not have sex. Knowing all the dangers of STD's and Pregnancy.

I for one would not like to relive some of my teenage years. And, I was a good child. My parents didn't know how good they had it. I didn't smoke, drink or do drugs. I decided I wanted to be a virgin bride. I accomplished a few good things in my life as a young adult.

So... why the need for this Blog? I guess the best way to put it is life is not so rosey when our teenage daughter does not get her way.

Understanding your children goes along way when big
issues rise and altercations happen. I never thought I would ever have a domestic violence 911 call dialed from my home.

We have always been a close and loving family. We have handled our issues well and without episodes of anger and never with violence.

However I crossed the line that my daughter April crosses so often. I let myself react to her foul mouth in anger and I don't know why, I don't even remember thinking about it. I just slapped her a crossed the face. I had been verbally abused and kicked, spit on and hit to often by my daughter.
It just happened.

Now our family deals with her actions and my actions. The prosecuting attorney decided to kick back the case and not file domestic violence. Only because my daughter is bipolar and most of the police and social workers in our town know her personally. They also know me.

They know it is not in my character to slap my daughter and they know that even in her fits of rage. My daughter still loves us and if she could choose not to hurt us she would choose not too.

Living through the difficult moments with your teenager is not easy. You are not alone. Life happens. I rely a lot on my faith at times like these.

Never being one to ever need the police to come to our home for any reason. I used to be embarrassed and I carried that shame with me for weeks, when something happened we could not control and needed the help of a police officer.

Now I pray for our police officers every day and night because they never know what they are walking into when they get a domestic violence call.

I guess you have to be strong enough emotionally to walk tall and know that when all else has failed.
You have made the choice that best fit the situation at the time.

To survive altercations with your teenager. You have to try and be calm. You need to remember that "this too shall pass." Do what is needed to survive the moment. Understand you can not rationalize in times of anger. Your child will not hear one good word you say at times of rage.

Keep a calm voice. Try not to yell. If it seems that just talking is making the situation worse. Then agree to talk at a later time. Keep everyone as secure and safe as possible.

If one child is enraged. Try and separate younger children from that part of the house. If at all possible keep only yourself, your child and a mediator involved in the moment.

If you can secure everyone and just allow your teen to be alone and calm down do so. Allow yourself time also to calm down and to think clearly.

If you can not de solve the issue and your child or yourself becomes out of control. Then help should be called immediately.

After such issues counseling for the family and individuals involved is always a good choice.
In these moments in life survival and emotional health is the main positive choice.

Kids will be kids......just don't let the business of parenting over whelm you and give you grief.