Bobdad
09-26-2008, 09:45 AM
My life has changed in the last 10 days. It changed because my daughter is now a normal, challenged teen, successful with grades and varsity tennis with OK friends. The only issue here is that she didn't change, I did. I heard Dr. Bradley speak in Glen Ellyn, IL last week, immediately ordered both "Your Teen is Crazy" and "Your Parents are Crazy" and started reading as soon as they arrived.
It is absolutely amazing what a little bit of perspective can do to reduce the stress associated with not understanding how your teenage daughter is being challenged by both her crazy brain and the nutty world around her. I have spent the last couple of years focusing on the parts of her attitude and semi-offensive behavior that put me over the wall. Sometime-raised-voice and in-your-face posturing by me, not her, did not make her a better kid, but simply made it harder for her to listen to me.
When I heard Dr. Bradley speak, I saw myself in many of his examples of disfunctional parenting as I reacted to my frustrations without seeing what it was that my daughter really needed. Relating to my daughter, which two weeks ago seemed an impossibility, is now something that I think can be rebuilt with a little bit time and trust. My trust in her.
By showing me that my daughter is just like every other kid out there and where to look for the important clues as to where she is and what she needs, Dr. Bradley has given me back something that has a value beyond anything that I could ever repay.
Thank you.
It is absolutely amazing what a little bit of perspective can do to reduce the stress associated with not understanding how your teenage daughter is being challenged by both her crazy brain and the nutty world around her. I have spent the last couple of years focusing on the parts of her attitude and semi-offensive behavior that put me over the wall. Sometime-raised-voice and in-your-face posturing by me, not her, did not make her a better kid, but simply made it harder for her to listen to me.
When I heard Dr. Bradley speak, I saw myself in many of his examples of disfunctional parenting as I reacted to my frustrations without seeing what it was that my daughter really needed. Relating to my daughter, which two weeks ago seemed an impossibility, is now something that I think can be rebuilt with a little bit time and trust. My trust in her.
By showing me that my daughter is just like every other kid out there and where to look for the important clues as to where she is and what she needs, Dr. Bradley has given me back something that has a value beyond anything that I could ever repay.
Thank you.