preparing for adolescence
Question and Answer
Isn't there some way to avoid a communication blackout and the other stresses associated with the adolescent voyage?
Not with some teenagers; perhaps not with the majority.
Tension occurs in the most loving and intelligent of families. Why? Because it is driven by powerful hormonal forces that overtake and possess boys and girls in the early pubescent years.
I believe parents and even some behavioral scientists have underestimated the impact of the biochemical changes occurring in puberty. We can see the effect of these hormones on the physical body, but something equally dynamic is occurring in the brain. How else can we explain why a happy, contented, cooperative 12-year-old suddenly becomes a sullen, angry, depressed 13-year-old? Some authorities would contend that social pressure alone accounts for this transformation. I simply don't believe that.
The emotional characteristics of a suddenly rebellious teenager are rather like the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome or severe menopause in women or perhaps a tumultuous midlife crisis in men. Obviously, dramatic changes are going on inside! Furthermore, if the upheaval were caused entirely by environmental factors, its onset would not be so predictable in puberty.
The emotional changes I have described arrive right on schedule, timed to coincide precisely with the arrival of sexual maturation. Both characteristics, I contend, are driven by a common hormonal assault. Human chemistry apparently goes haywire for a few years, in some more than others, affecting mind as much as body.
Background Information
Caution: Changes Ahead
Prepare your children for adolescence before they embark on its rocky road.
Preparing for Change
Surviving one of life's most turbulent passages comes down to preparation, communication and a whole lot of understanding.
Questions and Answers
How can I avoid future adolescent rebellion?
Answer
Review Frequently Asked Questions
Stories
Predators in the Tall Grass
Sometimes it's what you can't see that poses the biggest threat.
If you've been through a experience related to this topic, we invite you to share your story with others.Share Your Story
Other Things to Consider
Mr. Toad's Wild Ride: Lessons Learned About Adolescence
How do you survive your kids' adolescent years? Listen to the advice of Mr. Toad.
Where is God in the Midst of All My Troubles?
So many cry out to Him in times of need, but is God really listening? And, more important, does He care?
Related Topics
Life Pressures: Working Moms, Stay-at-Home Moms
Relationships: Blended Families, Divorce, Parents and Adult Children, Caring for Elderly Parents
