Well its round three of tween hormones. My now officially 7th grader has been experiencing mood swings and periods of sadness. I went through it with my oldest son and am on the tail-end of it with my daughter.
But once again it all begins. And I really believe that this time is going to be much more challenging. Why? My youngest is also my most sensitive child. That sensitivity wreaks havoc on his fluctuating hormones.
As a parent, mood swings and hormones can be confusing. Yes, I know it can definitely be confusing for the one going through it. But when one moment you are living with a happy child and the next moment they are angry or down in the dumps; well, it can leave your head spinning.
So besides going crazy or getting upset…what can a parent do?
There are a number of things that can be done to help your tween through this difficult period. But it helps to first work on your own behavior and decide that you are not going to be a reactor to your child (this can be hard). You are going to face each challenge with a sense of understanding.
It is best if you can keep your emotions level. If your child is in a grumpy mood and you react the same way, it only fuels things. Try to approach your child with a sense of calmness and gentleness. Even if they snap at you, maintain your composure. If you can keep yourself in check, it will help your child.
You should also make sure that during this time your tween is getting adequate rest. A lack of sleep can make the mood swings worse. This is something that we have had to really enforce this past week with my children now being on summer vacation.
My youngest would prefer to stay up all hours of the night and sleep in until noon. But my husband and I won’t allow it and let’s just say it has created some battles.
You should also make sure your tween is eating right. If they are munching on junk food, it can affect their mood as well. Good health in general will make this time much better.
Finally, remember that “this too shall pass.” Although it may seem like its lasting forever, eventually their hormones begin to settle down and things get back to normal.
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