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Kimberly Chastain’s book “Help!!! My Pre-Teen/Teenager is Driving Me Nuts!!!” gives practical tips and answers to guide you through your teenager’s adolescent years. Not only does the book cover what normal behavior is for a teenager and what isn’t, but it also discusses the warning signs of mental disturbances such as depression, substance abuse, and eating disorders. The book reads in a light conversational manner which can be easily comprehended by any parent.
Kimberly Chastain is a Professional Life Coach and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Through the years of her work with families and their teenagers she has gathered over 18 years worth of experiences with the signs and triggers of teenage issues.
The material for this book was taken from her witnessing these actual situations and providing real answers. Even for those children who are just reaching adolescence, this book is a great read for parents out there because it can help them get ready for the toils of parenting teens. This is just a taste of Kimberly Chastain’s advice:
10 tips to avoid over scheduling your family
1. Each teen has one individual activity (ex. music classes or sports) aside from family church activities.
2. If your teen wants another activity, he can replace his current activity with the new one.
3. Family events should be set and marked on the calendar. If you set a family night, no one should be able to schedule a separate outing on that evening.
4. Teach your teen how to say “no” to his friends in order to limit his activities away from home.
5. Before you say “yes” to a new activity, make sure that you’ve weighed the costs, not only financial but emotional as well.
6. Do you frequently catch yourself feeling impatient with your children? If you find that you are regularly hurrying up with your kids, then assess what you can give up in order to be able to slow down.
7. Make a pact to have dinner as a family at least 3-5 times in a week. This may even be just sandwiches together before going out to a lesson.
8. Make time for just “hanging out” with your kids. Let your teen have his own down time to engage in his own hobbies
9. Prioritize time with your family. Make sure you meet the number of hours a week you want to be together.
10. Make time for family vacations. Give time to each other to treasure being a family away from home.
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