Kindness

This includes recognizing a person's worth even when you don't agree with them. Learning how to treat others well comes from a genuine place. Kindness includes being sensitive to others, regardless of their circumstances.

Confidence

When you possess confidence, you can overcome any obstacle with grace and dignity. A confident attitude allows you to reach your goals and sets you up for continued success.

Trustworthy

A woman who can be trusted gains respect and admiration from others.

Honesty

Being trustworthy and authentic means that you walk with integrity. A woman who can be trusted with responsibilities and information will succeed in her personal and professional life.

Intelligence

Knowledge translates into success and confidence, both of which can help you find solutions to problems. Intelligence leads to opportunities and greater choices in life.

Compassion

Caring deeply for others allows us to grow as individuals. A compassionate heart can make a difference in the lives of others.

Positive attitude

Positive women exude an energy that draws like-minded people to themselves. Deliberately surround yourself with people who inspire and encourage you. Use affirming words and focus on the joyful things in life. A positive attitude allows you to see the good in yourself and in others.

Balance

Having balance allows you to lead a fulfilled life. A proper perspective on family, friends, health and wealth is essential to your well-being.

Composure

Life is full of challenges. Composure allows you to remain calm when stressful situations arise. Learning to control your emotions enables you to take command and remain strong.

Generosity

A generous spirit makes a difference in the lives of others. By helping others financially or emotionally, we grow as individuals and learn to love deeply.

Supportive

Helping your friends and colleagues achieve their goals leads to inner happiness. Being supportive of others displays your generosity and strengthens your relationships.

Courage

Being willing to take chances in life leads to passion and self-fulfillment.

Healthy

Making physical and mental health a priority. Physical exercise and healthy eating create a strong mind and body to keep you in top shape.

Successful

Following and achieving your dreams leads to success and confidence. Commit to your goals in writing. Develop a plan to achieve them and review them often.

Overcome obstacles

Facing adversity develops your inner strength. Struggle allows you to build your values and ambitions.

Talent

Every girl has one or more inner talent. Striving to discover and develop your natural abilities leads to greater confidence.

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Teenagers are in the most manipulative years of their development. It's a scary time for parents and can be a battle of wills just trying to "do what's best for them." How can we ensure that they'll learn the value of respect? That they'll achieve all that they're capable of achieving? It's a difficult relationship to manage, but the most important thing to give them is a stable sense of trust. Unfortunately, here are some ways we teach our teens the opposite:

1. We betray their privacy

It's difficult to go from raising them as infants and managing every aspect of their lives to giving them space as teens. They're individuals now, so you should respect their privacy. If you break that boundary by snooping through their personal belongings, journals and cell phone (whether you pay for it or not), you'll only make them get better at hiding themselves from you. That shouldn't be the end goal. Like any good relationship, you have to trust them in order for them to trust you too.

2. We don't create boundaries

Boundaries mean knowing where the line is and where you both stand. It's confusing and detrimental to hold somebody to an expectation that they're not even aware of. Speak up. Let them know what you expect of them and let them tell you what they expect of you. Teach them how to create boundaries with others. This contract you have with them is only fair if you make it clear and abide by it.

3. We don't assume authority

Being a parent is a delicate dance. On one hand, we want to be the authority figure, the disciplined teacher, the bad cop. Yet on the other, we want to be their confidant, their patient ear, their friend. The problem is you can't — and shouldn't — always be both.

It's not easy to discipline somebody you love, but it's essential to building their character. Don't take the lazy route and just hang out with your child- consistently guide them instead. You can still be their friend and relate with them but don't let them off the hook when it counts.

4. We don't know them

Teenagers are constantly changing people, so it can be difficult to truly know who they are or are becoming, but it can be a massive slight if you don't pay enough attention.

How would you feel if someone close to you revealed that they didn't really know what mattered to you? Odds are you won't remember everything, but actively listen when they talk to you. Don't just mindlessly say, "Uh-huh," and "That's great, dear." Know who they are as individuals.

5. We shame them

When we react emotionally to our teens it can cut deep. They're growing and learning right from wrong usually be experimenting, testing the limits or simply stumbling into them. They're dealing with internal struggles about body image, acceptance and self.

By all means, call them out when they've done wrong, but discuss with them why it was wrong and ask them what they should have done instead. Relate with them and share stories of your own teenage struggle and growth.

Normalize who they are instead of shaming them: their sexual curiosity, their bodies, their stress, depression or anything else they're going through. Life can be messy and difficult, but if we face the reality of it - which is that we're all struggling with similar and different things - and let them know that it's OK and that we understand because we're people too, it can go a long way.

6. We lead by poor example

Our anxieties, world views and biases tend to get (unfortunately) passed down to our children. In the end, we are usually their first and longest lasting role models. Parents aren't perfect, but the best thing we can do is try to better ourselves. Telling them, "Do what I say, not what I do" isn't likely to be very effective in the long run.

Success in life, love and career is often dependent on relationships. The relationship we build with our teens sets the stage for most — if not all — of their future relationships. It's far better to make it a healthy, open and honest one, don't you think?

The post 6 reasons we teach our teens to distrust others appeared first on FamilyToday.

Your teenager needs you in their life more than ever. While most parents stay heavily involved in the academic and social lives of their younger children, the level of parental involvement sharply declines when children reach their teenage years. Research shows that adolescents with quality parental involvement are more likely to have higher success with academic, behavioral and emotional issues.

Although your teenager seeks independence, you can remain active in his or her life and set them up for future success in many ways:

Keep talking

The two most important environments in a teenager's life are home and school. As a parent, you need to keep the lines of communication open in both places. Many parents wrongly assume that their adolescents do not listen to them or value what they have to say, but evidence shows that your teenager is looking to you more than ever for guidance.

Although they might act indifferent towards you, they need you to provide gentle authority, continued advice and most of all, unconditional love. Early on, commit to having conversations about important topics such as alcohol, drugs, bullying and sex that expand over time. Listen to your child and allow him or her to offer input in some decisions, showing that you value their opinions. Take an interest in their hobbies and get to know their friends.

Stay involved

Even though few school activities involve high schoolers and their parents, you can still get involved in many ways. Know who their teachers are. Be aware of school policies and curriculum so you can help your child balance school expectations and stay organized. Most schools have websites that contain information about grades and assignments that you can view with your teen to ensure that they are on the right track. Volunteer and get to know parents and others in the school community.

Provide structure

As children age, parents shift from managing their lives to providing supervision and advice. Don't neglect this shift. Teenagers thrive on structure. Set ground rules so they know what your expectations are and what the consequences will be for not following them. Help your teenager learn strong study habits. Establish study guidelines and limit the use of electronic devices during homework time. Once your teen gets behind the wheel, clarify your expectations regarding the consequences of drinking and driving. This level of communication and structure will help set your teen up for success.

Offer support

Maintain a positive and nurturing relationship with your teenager. Listen with an open mind and heart and stay receptive to their ideas and opinions. Respect their need for privacy. By validating their feelings and giving them the space they need to become more independent, you are creating an environment of trust with your teenager that will hopefully last a lifetime.

The post 4 tiny ways parents can help their teens appeared first on FamilyToday.

Parenting is the hardest thing you'll ever do in life. As your children grow, they will confront situations you don't want them to but that are necessary for their growth and development.

Here are 6 thoughts you will likely have as your teen enters the "real world."

1. "Friends are going to ruin her confidence."

My 12-year-old daughter came home one day and said her friends told her she has a unibrow and the gap between her two front teeth made her look like a beaver. This broke my heart because she has never thought about her eyebrows before and she loves her gap. Immediately, I thought how this would affect her views of herself and her confidence later on.

As much as I wanted to call the parents of my daughter's friends, I felt this was a good opportunity to teach her how to handle criticism. I reminded her how much she loves her gap because it makes her who she is (something she has said before). I didn't just tell her this, though; I asked questions so she came to this conclusion herself. We discussed how some people will say anything to get another person upset, but if you remain calm, those people will move on to someone who will give them the reaction they are seeking. We discussed how there will always be people in life who will criticize others, but instead of shooting criticisms back, it's often better to let them know what they've said was hurtful and to always stand up for yourself.

2. "Will my son say no to sex, drugs and alcohol?"

My son is a popular teenage boy who has had some friends experiment with sex, drugs and alcohol. While I don't think he has done those things yet, I can't help but worry every time he walks out of our home.

The choices our children make can change their lives forever. While we can't control every single thing they do, we can guide them to make the right choices.

Every time my son says he's going to a party or a friend's house, I tell him, "Always make the right decisions, Brad." We also often talk about the consequences of other people's actions. Being able to use others as examples of what not to do is an excellent way to help him see the reality of bad choices.

3. "Will my child have a satisfying life?"

For parents who have children with developmental disabilities, I understand what you're going through. I have a 7-year-old with reactive attachment disorder, and I often wonder if he will have a successful, satisfying future.

A therapist once told me this, "Your idea of what a successful, satisfying life is may be much different from his. Don't concentrate on your aspirations for his future, but support what he wants and needs for his life. That's how you can rest assured he will have a satisfying life."

4. "My teen is so lazy. I don't think he'll ever amount to anything in life."

Most teens are just naturally lazy. Does this mean they will never be successful in life? No, not at all.

Adolescence is a difficult time with physical, mental and emotional changes. It's tiring. While supporting the laziness isn't something a parent should do, stepping back and easing your own concerns about the future of a lazy teen is recommended.

Encourage your teen to complete chores and do what he has to do for school and work. You may need to remind him many times and give him pep talks. But also teach him how to motivate himself on his own.

5. "What if she decides to not go to college?"

Not everyone wants to go to college, and that doesn't mean they will fail in life. Just look at Mark Zuckerberg the creator of Facebook. He quit college and never looked back. College doesn't give you a ticket to a successful life; it just increases your chances of having one.

As parents, we have to support our children as they make decisions about their lives. We may not agree with them at all, but we should support them. After all, our children will end up living the consequences of the lives they choose. As long as they know and understand that, there's nothing more you can really do.

Discuss with your teen the choices she is making and how those decisions will impact her future. By listening to your teen's reasonings, you may find yourself understanding her choices.

6. "What if something terrible happens to him while he's out with his friends?"

You love your children. You never want anything bad to happen to them. As they get older, it's natural to believe there are many more threats to their safety than there were when they were under your wings.

It may help to realize you are under those same risks they are; but, yet, you've made it this far. Yes, your teen is still learning, and that can increase the risks of him getting hurt. However, you can ease some of your fears by asking questions, discussing potential situations and how to handle them and reminding him what to do or not do. Afterward, it helps to pray and have faith he will be okay.

Remember back to when you were a teen getting ready to enter the "real world." What was it like for you? Thinking about how you felt at that age can help you help your teen. Think about what you would have liked from your parents and other adults around you. Give your teen that and be sure to ask what he or she needs and wants. All you can do is support, guide and hope - which can be scary for a parent - but that's why it's so hard to be one.

The post 6 scary thoughts you will have about your teen’s future appeared first on FamilyToday.