- 1). Do not announce your teen’s breakup to family and friends. Remember how sensitive teens are. It will not be difficult for any adult to surmise what a teen is feeling: It is usually written all over her face.
- 2). Stay informed of what is going on with your teen, but respect his privacy. As a parent, reading your child’s email or text messages is off-limits unless you believe he is in immediate danger.
- 3). Notice signs of depression. If you teen has obviously broken off a relationship, encourage her to talk to you when she needs to. If she is overeating, undereating or oversleeping, talk to her. These are signs of a minor depression that is commonly associated with a change in relationships.
- 4). Be honest with your teen. Without being patronizing, explain that your earliest teen romances were not all rosy, but that you did survive them. It may take some time for your teen to see that the world will not grind to a halt because his girlfriend broke up with him.
- 5). Allow your teen to grieve. Be aware of where she is and what she is doing, but don’t hover over her. She needs some privacy to process these emotions.Be patient. As adults, it can be hard to remember the emotional highs and lows that teen-age romance can carry. Neither minimize her feelings nor cater to any drama. Eventually, your teen will process this breakup and find a way to move past it. Simply be there to assist her when she needs it.
- 6). Seek professional help if needed. If you child has lost weight and/or cannot attend school, or her grades are slipping, make an appointment with a psychologist who specializes in working with families. Pick a therapist of the same gender to make this a less intimidating experience for your child.
previous post