The human body goes through a huge transformation in the teen years. Our bodies go from a child body to an adult body. It's incredible how much change can happen in a short period of time. So why don't we ever talk about how much their brain is growing at that time also. It's exhausting for them. Just like their bodies get tired easier their brain gets tired easier. We tend to forget this when we are talking with them. They blurt out things without thinking. It takes a lot of energy to think things through. They don't have the mental strength some days. They are also rewriting their frontal cortex. You know the part that helps us make good decisions and understanding consequences. They just can't make decisions or understand the consequences at times. Now this doesn't give them an excuse to behave badly. Just maybe as parents we can be a little bit more understanding and patient with them and let them recognize when they are making a mistake and then try again. It's all part of the learning process of becoming an adult. So maybe the next time your teenager blurts something out or makes a bad decision, talk to them about it and see if they can readjust and try again.
If you or your teenager would like to learn about some great strategies to help navigate the teenage years, click the link below for a free mini session.
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