Motherhood The Real Deal Talks Teens!

September 26, 2017 by justsayingmum 21 Comments

Welcome back to the talking teens series where I ask those with small children what they envisage those teen years to be like. As a parent of teenagers, it’s a wonderful way to connect with all of those fantastic parent bloggers of younger children so I am thrilled that this month’s interview is with Talya from Motherhood The Real Deal. Talya is a total professional at blogging who inspires me daily. Most of you will also know Talya as the founder of the #CoolMumClub along with Sarah from Mum Muddling Through.

Although Talya is a parent to a younger daughter, she is one of those parents who I wish had teens already as I reckon she would be that voice of wisdom. That one person you would go to for advice on how the hell to deal with them. Alas, she isn’t there yet but her answers to my questions are just so insightful and heartfelt that I just know that she is going to make the best mum of teens ever!

1. I know it’s a long way off but what are you dreading about your children becoming teens?
The high emotions, the broken hearts, the not knowing what to say and do to make them feel better, the potential mum hatred. I’m also worried because I know as a parent there is so much stuff that is basically out of your control and a lot of stuff you have no clue about – what they get up to with their friends, what happens when they go out at night, what happens at school – and that at the end of the day you’ve got to be there for them without getting yourself worked up into a total blithering state about all the crazy and wild times the teen years can bring with them.

2. What are you looking forward to?

Seeing my daughter on her transition to womanhood, hearing her opinions whether I like them or not, hopefully being able to spend quality time together in a more adult way. I hope I’ll be the mum that welcomes all the teen friends into the house, and who will be the mum they can all turn to, but I don’t know whether this is a total pipedream!

3. As a parent, what issues do you imagine are important when raising teens?

Gosh there are so many these days and I’m sure in ten years time when my daughter is a teen there will be even more! Body image and self esteem are a big one, and how to keep things real in this increasingly crazy virtual world we seem to be falling into more and more. I think it’s so important that teens feel as secure as possible because at the end of the day, we can’t shelter them from all the issues that are out there, but we can get them the self confidence and security to help them deal better with them.

4. What kind of parent do you think or hope (!) you’ll be when your children are in their teen years?

Well, I hope I will have mellowed out a bit by then else I’ll be on my way to a cardiac! I hope by then things will be a little bit more free and easy rather than striving as they are now. I’d like to embrace my inner hippy a bit more – but don’t want to end up like Eddie from Ab Fab!

5. Is there anything you’d like to say to your own parents before your children become teens or were you an angel?

I’m so sorry for being a total dickhead! Hormones have a lot to answer for. I’m also very pleased you only knew a small fraction of the story and I really hope karma doesn’t come and bite me hard on the ass (even though it most probably will).

6. Is there any advice that you would give your children before they get to the teen stage?

Don’t rush through childhood. Stay a child as long as you can. Know your worth and be an individual. And know that we are always for you not against you.

7. Do you envisage raising teens to be an easier stage than raising littles?

Hell no…..I remember what I was like as a teen and it wasn’t pretty!

Talya, thank you so much for taking part in this series. It was an honour to have you. Your advice you give in question 6 is beautiful. It’s so hard being a teen but also a parent to a teen that I’m feeling I need to print up this interview and leave a copy for each of mine to read. Don’t rush through childhood, know your worth and don’t think we are against you. Wonderful advice. See, I said that I knew you’d be full of words of wisdom! Talya, I hope that those teen years are a breeze and I am certain you won’t be too Eddie from Ab Fab!

If anyone else would like to take part in this series please get in touch. I’d be delighted to have you … just saying!

Talya blogs at Motherhood The Real Deal

and her twitter and instagram links are below:

Twitter

Instagram