It’s true! Laughter is some of the best medicine. While youdefinitelywant to experience this with your teen, this article is about you and your spouse. And oftentimes, laughter is the last thing we tend to sharewith one another. That and the idea that “this too shall pass”. Because it will, barring a critical issue evolving with your teenager, manyof thetense moments are aroundsmallerthings that will be worked through.
Learning to laugh about them is one thing. First, wehavetonot take themso seriously as to redirect our angst against our spouse. That isreally,reallyimportant! How do we do this? I have no idea.Ijustknow it’s a good thing when it happens.How’s that for helpful?Keep it in the back of your mind.Try to allow your emotional reactions to dissipate in exchange for objective thinking. Don’t be afraid to cast a wink at your spouse in the height of things so you can remember to laugh later.
Raising teenagers? It’s not for the faint of heart. But it can beextremely rewarding, not just as parents, but as married couples. Join forces, brave souls! Ride into the fray with the intent not to forget the one at your side! Raise your banners high and prepare for battle! Draw your swords and—no. Fine. I’m being extreme.
The point is, we need our spouses. The last thing we want to do is damage our relationship with each other while trying to preserve our relationship with our teen. So communicate, spend time together, prioritize each other, share thoughts and emotions, and don’t criticize the other—even if they are overreacting.
And justimagine…one of these days, not long in the future, you’ll be rocking on your front porch, coffee in hand, talking about the “good ol’ days” when your phone rings, and your now adult child calls to ask you: “What do I do?My teenager is driving us nuts!”
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/LaylaBird
