If you are the parent of a teenager, all advice is welcome. This is what I thought before reading what Busy Mom wrote in The Ten Commandments of Parenting a Teenager. And I ask you, “With parents who think like that, who needs enemies?”

The article states that parents must be very careful with what we do so as not to damage the reputation of our teenagers.

• Don’t talk to people in stores.
• Remember that you are a wallet and a driver
• Don’t talk to your teen’s friends in the car.
• Don’t take things from them
• Don’t be friendly with his teacher.
• Don’t talk about taking them to events…
• and never ask “where are you going?”

By the way, did you say that you became the mother of a teenager just a few weeks before?

Do you really, really think that the day your son turned thirteen, something went wrong in his head and turned on the “reputation” light? Or maybe her son really gave him a crash course in parenting teens.

I believe that our children are like little mirrors of us, reflecting everything we do and say. Parenting teenagers is no different than parenting younger children. The only difference is that teenagers are much bigger mirrors.

So here are the revised Ten Commandments for parenting a teenager:

1. You will love and appreciate your teen and express this love every day, even when you disagree, as this will affect the teen’s confidence and future.
2. You must remember to communicate with your teen and always leave an open channel of communication, as this will help your teen seek help and ensure their confidence and future.
3. Don’t underestimate your teen’s ideas, fears, and challenges, as you will be seen as “disrespectful,” and this will affect your teen’s respect and future.
4. You won’t be dishonest asking teens not to do the same things you do (smoking, drinking, etc.). You should always “walk the talk” because this will affect your teen’s perception of truth and honesty and her future.
5. Even if you are shorter than your teen, you will go out of your way to hug and kiss your teen, as they will always need love and connection. This will affect your teen’s ability to connect physically and emotionally in the future.
6. You will declare in public that you have the most wonderful teenager in the world, a loving, sensitive, understanding and respectful teenager, as this will affect the teenager’s sense of pride and their future.
7. You won’t make fun of your teen for the music they listen to, the clothes they wear, the hairstyle they try, or the number of piercings they have. You will do your best to accept your teenager and give them a sense of uniqueness because you remember your teenage years when you did some things that seemed strange to your parents. This will affect your teen’s sense of importance and teach acceptance, a useful tool for the future.
8. You will not forget the really important things in life and that your teenager looks up to you as a role model. You won’t buy fancy cars and trendy accessories and complain that teenagers are subject to peer pressure. You will be yourself because this will affect your teen’s sense of self and her future.
9. You will have positive thoughts about your teen and express them at every opportunity as they will create love, harmony and a caring environment for your teen and affect your teen’s attitude towards life and the future.
10. you will always ask Really, “How was your day?”, “How can I help?” and “Is something bothering you?”, as teens perceive such questions as worrying and will do everything in their power to get your attention. Take care of your teen because this will affect your teen’s emotional intelligence.

And may the force be with you.