Moving With Teenagers
Moving with your teenager can be emotional and difficult, but you can lessen their angst by taking a few steps during the moving process. Though they are still children, it can help greatly to offer them the respect and responsibility they crave during the stressful process of a move. By trying to understand and accommodate your teen's needs, you may be able to have a more peaceful move than you would have imagined.
Tell Them Early says the Alohamovers site.
Once it's certain you're moving, hold a family meeting to discuss the move with your teen. They may react with strong emotions to the move, and that is perfectly natural. Try to remain calm and sympathetic towards your teen even if their reaction isn't the pleased one you might be hoping for. Make yourself available to answer any questions they might have, and explain to them in adult terms why the move is something you feel is best for your family.
Make Special Time for Friends
Most teenagers get a sense of personal identity from their friends, which is part of why moving teens away from their friends can be so stressful. Make arrangements with your teen for them to have friends over frequently before the move, have a "See You Soon" party shortly before moving day, and if possible, figure out a way for your teen to see their friends after you're settled into your new home. Discuss the possibility of weeklong trips or sleepovers with your teen's friends' parents.
Online social networking is a great way for teens to stay in touch with their friends long-distance, so consider encouraging your teen to sign up with a social network if they haven't already. Make sure you get a list of emails and phone numbers at your "See You Soon" party if your teen doesn't already have this information so that they can stay in touch easily.
Give Them Responsibilities
One of the biggest complaints teenagers have is that they are treated like children. You can avoid that with your move by informing your teen that you would like to give them certain responsibilities with the move. Sadly, they can't call the utility companies for you, but they can help you out by making lists of things that need to be done before the move, helping to pack up certain rooms, or even by taking care of younger siblings. Have them research your new hometown and find a cool restaurant or activity they'd like to try when you first get there. If you can, take them along when you are picking out your new living arrangements and have them give you their input about each prospective place.
Make the Move Easy for Everyone
Your teen is going to be even more stressed out than usual if you are stressed out. The best way to lessen everyone's stress with the move is to hire a professional moving company to handle your move. Moving companies can do everything from packing your things to placing them in the rooms they need to be in when you get to your new home. When it's up to the movers to get everything out, your moving day suddenly becomes an easier, less frantic process, meaning that you can spend more time focusing on your family and making sure your teenager is taking the move in stride.
Tell Them Early says the Alohamovers site.
Once it's certain you're moving, hold a family meeting to discuss the move with your teen. They may react with strong emotions to the move, and that is perfectly natural. Try to remain calm and sympathetic towards your teen even if their reaction isn't the pleased one you might be hoping for. Make yourself available to answer any questions they might have, and explain to them in adult terms why the move is something you feel is best for your family.
Make Special Time for Friends
Most teenagers get a sense of personal identity from their friends, which is part of why moving teens away from their friends can be so stressful. Make arrangements with your teen for them to have friends over frequently before the move, have a "See You Soon" party shortly before moving day, and if possible, figure out a way for your teen to see their friends after you're settled into your new home. Discuss the possibility of weeklong trips or sleepovers with your teen's friends' parents.
Online social networking is a great way for teens to stay in touch with their friends long-distance, so consider encouraging your teen to sign up with a social network if they haven't already. Make sure you get a list of emails and phone numbers at your "See You Soon" party if your teen doesn't already have this information so that they can stay in touch easily.
Give Them Responsibilities
One of the biggest complaints teenagers have is that they are treated like children. You can avoid that with your move by informing your teen that you would like to give them certain responsibilities with the move. Sadly, they can't call the utility companies for you, but they can help you out by making lists of things that need to be done before the move, helping to pack up certain rooms, or even by taking care of younger siblings. Have them research your new hometown and find a cool restaurant or activity they'd like to try when you first get there. If you can, take them along when you are picking out your new living arrangements and have them give you their input about each prospective place.
Make the Move Easy for Everyone
Your teen is going to be even more stressed out than usual if you are stressed out. The best way to lessen everyone's stress with the move is to hire a professional moving company to handle your move. Moving companies can do everything from packing your things to placing them in the rooms they need to be in when you get to your new home. When it's up to the movers to get everything out, your moving day suddenly becomes an easier, less frantic process, meaning that you can spend more time focusing on your family and making sure your teenager is taking the move in stride.
Comments
Post a Comment