04:59
Faizan
When you think back to the end of your first love, you might feel a twinge of sadness many years later. For a teenager who's just going through it, a bad breakup can feel like the end of the world, even if the relationship was short-lived. Successfully helping your teenage daughter through the end of her relationship can make the difference between getting over it quickly and carrying the hurt around for months or even years.
Listen to what she has to say without judgment. Make yourself available when she needs to talk. Remember that she might still love him deeply, and that what she really needs is a sympathetic ear and a shoulder to cry on. She might also repeat the same lament over and over, but know that she'll stop eventually if you hear her out.
Encourage her interests or help her find new ones. A heartbroken teen might seem to lose interest in the things that used to make her happy, so gently push her to resume the activities she loves. If she's a musician, find a summer music camp she's never attended or take her to a concert by one of her favorite artists. If she's a painter, buy her some paints she's never tried before. Little things like this can help rekindle feelings of passion for something other than her ex.
Encourage her to spend more time with her friends. She needs her peers now more than ever. Throw a slumber party, drop her and a friend off at the mall for an afternoon, help her visit a girlfriend she hasn't seen in a while or take her to an activity where she can meet new friends.
Nip melodrama in the bud by distracting her. If she's crying inconsolably, insist that she go out and get some exercise with you, even if it's just a walk around the block. Sit down and watch a funny movie or play a video game together. Tell ghost stories. Do whatever it takes to get her to think about something other than her ex, even if only for a little while.
Tell her how you got over your own teenage breakups. Knowing you felt what she's feeling and survived can help her gain perspective.
Refrain from talking badly about her ex, even if you really disliked him. Respect the fact that she might still love him deeply and that putting him down can cause her to feel like you don't understand.
Take her to see a counselor if her grief persists, her self-esteem takes an extended nosedive or you suspect the relationship was abusive. Having a neutral adult to talk to about the situation allows her to discuss things she might feel she can't discuss with her parents.
Listen to what she has to say without judgment. Make yourself available when she needs to talk. Remember that she might still love him deeply, and that what she really needs is a sympathetic ear and a shoulder to cry on. She might also repeat the same lament over and over, but know that she'll stop eventually if you hear her out.
Encourage her interests or help her find new ones. A heartbroken teen might seem to lose interest in the things that used to make her happy, so gently push her to resume the activities she loves. If she's a musician, find a summer music camp she's never attended or take her to a concert by one of her favorite artists. If she's a painter, buy her some paints she's never tried before. Little things like this can help rekindle feelings of passion for something other than her ex.
Encourage her to spend more time with her friends. She needs her peers now more than ever. Throw a slumber party, drop her and a friend off at the mall for an afternoon, help her visit a girlfriend she hasn't seen in a while or take her to an activity where she can meet new friends.
Nip melodrama in the bud by distracting her. If she's crying inconsolably, insist that she go out and get some exercise with you, even if it's just a walk around the block. Sit down and watch a funny movie or play a video game together. Tell ghost stories. Do whatever it takes to get her to think about something other than her ex, even if only for a little while.
Tell her how you got over your own teenage breakups. Knowing you felt what she's feeling and survived can help her gain perspective.
Refrain from talking badly about her ex, even if you really disliked him. Respect the fact that she might still love him deeply and that putting him down can cause her to feel like you don't understand.
Take her to see a counselor if her grief persists, her self-esteem takes an extended nosedive or you suspect the relationship was abusive. Having a neutral adult to talk to about the situation allows her to discuss things she might feel she can't discuss with her parents.
Posted in: Teen Dating & Sex
