This has been a hard week for parents of teens. I know this because it has been a hard week for teens! We had a spike in shelter stays the past week, and saw multiple new youth. We had as many as 10 kids overnight at The Door; our maximum capacity is 12.

On the best of days it is hard work being a teenager. But truth be told, it is hard work being a parent of one too! One minute you know what planet you live on, and the next minute – you realize you were mistaken. Dealing with teen drama isn’t easy.

I came across a great article this week titled 7 Strategies for Addressing Teenage Drama. This article has tips for how to respond effectively for positive outcomes.

Another resource for parents is a book that we have been reading together as staff: How to Talk so Teens Will Listen and How to Listen so Teens Will Talk by Adele Faber. It is a fun and easy read and provides practical guidance including dialogue examples to help you as you converse with your teen.

Another great resource for parents of teens is http://parentingteens.about.com, a parenting guide filled with great ideas, links and resources, and it pops right into your email once a week for you to read at your leisure.

Lastly, the National Runaway Safeline, 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929) is open 24/7, not just for your teen to call – but also for parents of teens! It is comforting to know you aren’t alone. Tips for parents can be found on their website too.

Fairbanks Youth Advocates is here for both you and your teen. It has been said that being a parent is the hardest job in the world. It can also be a very rewarding experience. Our hats off to parents everywhere!