If we thought being a teenager was hard when you were going up; I think now it’s more difficult. There appears to be a lot peer pressure, along with keeping up with the Jones children. If the neighbor’s kids are wearing hundred dollar sneakers, and top of the line clothing, it becomes difficult to keep up; and then as parents we remember the ridicule we suffered, so we try to avoid those type of situations for them.

            Then there is the dating problems when should we allow them to start to date; how will they deal with a break up. Are they having sex, are they protecting themselves. Things are totally different than when most of us grew up, back then there was VD, Venereal Disease; you got a antibiotics shot or two and it was over; a few got herpes and are still suffering; but today there is AIDS that is a death sentence.

Things are so different and scary now; today the drugs are more potent and addictive, and much easier to acquire. In the seventies and eighties drugs were around and most people were satisfied with marijuana, got a little high, mellowed out and chilled. Now with crack and other potent drugs, they create such a vicious circle, that even older adults find hard to break.

With so much pressure to succeed, in school, with their social life, and hormonal problems, doctors are finding suicide on the rise. So now is the question; what is your teenager thinking about, how are they feeling; can they come to you or someone else they can confide in? Trying to keep a relationship with your teenager, where the communication lines are open is something you need to invoke, not by being nosy though, without asking too many questions, but just by being there. Be there to drive them to their friend’s house, invite the friends over, get to know the friends and most importantly always know where and what they are doing. Any teenager hanging out after 9:30, 10; is usually up to no good, they should be at your home or a respectable friends house.

It’s not easy to be the parent of a teenager, but if you suspect something; whether its drugs or depression talk to your child’s doctor they can talk to them, or refer them to a Mental Health screening, where by answering questions in the waiting room, the doctor could help you understand what is going on inside your son or daughters head. This screening can also give indication of mental illness or suicide thoughts. Usually when a teenager commits suicide there are no obvious systems or signs, until it is too late, then the parents realize that there were signs, they just did not realize it at the time.

When in doubt, speak to your teenager’s doctor, which is what he or she is there for; not just for immunizations, and colds but also for calling in these types of situations.