rebellious teen

[amysmom]

One of the best things we did when our daughter, Amy (age 26 now) turned 13 years old was to tell her that she would be dealing directly with her doctor from then on.


The night before she turned 13 she refused to do her treatments. I knew this was typical teenage behavior so I told her she would be dealing directly with her doctor regarding complaints, arguments and concerns. This took me out of the head-butting that starts at that age, especially between teenage girls and their Mom.


I cleared it with her doctor with the understanding the he would call me or I would call him after regular appointments or phone calls from Amy so that I knew everthing that was going on. Her doctor loved the idea.


It was wonderful - it gave Amy a huge feeling of independence and control over her health. It also started her thinking and acting in ways she would have to when she became an adult.


Everything progressed from there and when she turned 18 years old and left for college, she was taking care of her health 100%.

 

[amysmom]

One of the best things we did when our daughter, Amy (age 26 now) turned 13 years old was to tell her that she would be dealing directly with her doctor from then on.


The night before she turned 13 she refused to do her treatments. I knew this was typical teenage behavior so I told her she would be dealing directly with her doctor regarding complaints, arguments and concerns. This took me out of the head-butting that starts at that age, especially between teenage girls and their Mom.


I cleared it with her doctor with the understanding the he would call me or I would call him after regular appointments or phone calls from Amy so that I knew everthing that was going on. Her doctor loved the idea.


It was wonderful - it gave Amy a huge feeling of independence and control over her health. It also started her thinking and acting in ways she would have to when she became an adult.


Everything progressed from there and when she turned 18 years old and left for college, she was taking care of her health 100%.

 

[amysmom]

One of the best things we did when our daughter, Amy (age 26 now) turned 13 years old was to tell her that she would be dealing directly with her doctor from then on.


The night before she turned 13 she refused to do her treatments. I knew this was typical teenage behavior so I told her she would be dealing directly with her doctor regarding complaints, arguments and concerns. This took me out of the head-butting that starts at that age, especially between teenage girls and their Mom.


I cleared it with her doctor with the understanding the he would call me or I would call him after regular appointments or phone calls from Amy so that I knew everthing that was going on. Her doctor loved the idea.


It was wonderful - it gave Amy a huge feeling of independence and control over her health. It also started her thinking and acting in ways she would have to when she became an adult.


Everything progressed from there and when she turned 18 years old and left for college, she was taking care of her health 100%.

 

[amysmom]

One of the best things we did when our daughter, Amy (age 26 now) turned 13 years old was to tell her that she would be dealing directly with her doctor from then on.


The night before she turned 13 she refused to do her treatments. I knew this was typical teenage behavior so I told her she would be dealing directly with her doctor regarding complaints, arguments and concerns. This took me out of the head-butting that starts at that age, especially between teenage girls and their Mom.


I cleared it with her doctor with the understanding the he would call me or I would call him after regular appointments or phone calls from Amy so that I knew everthing that was going on. Her doctor loved the idea.


It was wonderful - it gave Amy a huge feeling of independence and control over her health. It also started her thinking and acting in ways she would have to when she became an adult.


Everything progressed from there and when she turned 18 years old and left for college, she was taking care of her health 100%.

 

[amysmom]

One of the best things we did when our daughter, Amy (age 26 now) turned 13 years old was to tell her that she would be dealing directly with her doctor from then on.


The night before she turned 13 she refused to do her treatments. I knew this was typical teenage behavior so I told her she would be dealing directly with her doctor regarding complaints, arguments and concerns. This took me out of the head-butting that starts at that age, especially between teenage girls and their Mom.


I cleared it with her doctor with the understanding the he would call me or I would call him after regular appointments or phone calls from Amy so that I knew everthing that was going on. Her doctor loved the idea.


It was wonderful - it gave Amy a huge feeling of independence and control over her health. It also started her thinking and acting in ways she would have to when she became an adult.


Everything progressed from there and when she turned 18 years old and left for college, she was taking care of her health 100%.

 

[jimiv]

There is an increased desire for control and independence as adolescence goes into full swing. I think if you talk to her about what changes you have noticed in her behaviors about this and what you two can do to solve this problem. If you focus on the behaviors, you may make some progress. I think you would want to see some other signs of depression before making that sort of diagnosis such as big changes in sleeping patterns or eating habits or her levels of interaction with her friends. Things such as that.

 

[jimiv]

There is an increased desire for control and independence as adolescence goes into full swing. I think if you talk to her about what changes you have noticed in her behaviors about this and what you two can do to solve this problem. If you focus on the behaviors, you may make some progress. I think you would want to see some other signs of depression before making that sort of diagnosis such as big changes in sleeping patterns or eating habits or her levels of interaction with her friends. Things such as that.

 

[jimiv]

There is an increased desire for control and independence as adolescence goes into full swing. I think if you talk to her about what changes you have noticed in her behaviors about this and what you two can do to solve this problem. If you focus on the behaviors, you may make some progress. I think you would want to see some other signs of depression before making that sort of diagnosis such as big changes in sleeping patterns or eating habits or her levels of interaction with her friends. Things such as that.

 

[jimiv]

There is an increased desire for control and independence as adolescence goes into full swing. I think if you talk to her about what changes you have noticed in her behaviors about this and what you two can do to solve this problem. If you focus on the behaviors, you may make some progress. I think you would want to see some other signs of depression before making that sort of diagnosis such as big changes in sleeping patterns or eating habits or her levels of interaction with her friends. Things such as that.

 

[jimiv]

There is an increased desire for control and independence as adolescence goes into full swing. I think if you talk to her about what changes you have noticed in her behaviors about this and what you two can do to solve this problem. If you focus on the behaviors, you may make some progress. I think you would want to see some other signs of depression before making that sort of diagnosis such as big changes in sleeping patterns or eating habits or her levels of interaction with her friends. Things such as that.

 

[AnnaH]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>I have heard from many CF patients over the last 14 years that they wished their moms were as involved with their care as I was with Nathans and that they would have probably done more of the things they needed to do if their parents had been more involved. With that said, yes we want them to gain independence, but they need to know without any doubts whatsoever that we are here for them and that they do not have to do it alone, now while they are teens, or later when they are adults! <b>Never, not even one single time, have I ever heard a teen with CF say they wish their parents would leave them alone to deal with the disease</b>.</end quote></div>
I'll be the first then. I'm 17, and have had complete control over my health since I was ten. Before that, they came, but let me make the major decisons. My parents really only come to the hospital if i'm inpatient or need help getting home. Sometimes they help me set up iv stuff or whatever, but it's not everday.
Otherwise, all of it- doctors appointments, meds, tests- it's my body, and my disease.
I agree with amys mom- I dealt with my doctor, and not my parents. That kept me from fighting with my parents- if i didn't want to do something, they would tell me to call the clinic and talk about it with them. Again, my body, my issues.

I do wish my parents would let me deal with my own disease- because, frankly, it's mine, I'm going to be (hopefully) dealing with it for a good long time, and I don't want mommy and daddy holding my hand and making decisons for me.

I will say I've done much better overall then my friends with super invloved parents, especially with going away and still taking care of myself. Nothing really changed for me. I also didn't have hormonal fights with my parents about treatments, because they didn't do anything.

 

[AnnaH]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>I have heard from many CF patients over the last 14 years that they wished their moms were as involved with their care as I was with Nathans and that they would have probably done more of the things they needed to do if their parents had been more involved. With that said, yes we want them to gain independence, but they need to know without any doubts whatsoever that we are here for them and that they do not have to do it alone, now while they are teens, or later when they are adults! <b>Never, not even one single time, have I ever heard a teen with CF say they wish their parents would leave them alone to deal with the disease</b>.</end quote></div>
I'll be the first then. I'm 17, and have had complete control over my health since I was ten. Before that, they came, but let me make the major decisons. My parents really only come to the hospital if i'm inpatient or need help getting home. Sometimes they help me set up iv stuff or whatever, but it's not everday.
Otherwise, all of it- doctors appointments, meds, tests- it's my body, and my disease.
I agree with amys mom- I dealt with my doctor, and not my parents. That kept me from fighting with my parents- if i didn't want to do something, they would tell me to call the clinic and talk about it with them. Again, my body, my issues.

I do wish my parents would let me deal with my own disease- because, frankly, it's mine, I'm going to be (hopefully) dealing with it for a good long time, and I don't want mommy and daddy holding my hand and making decisons for me.

I will say I've done much better overall then my friends with super invloved parents, especially with going away and still taking care of myself. Nothing really changed for me. I also didn't have hormonal fights with my parents about treatments, because they didn't do anything.

 

[AnnaH]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>I have heard from many CF patients over the last 14 years that they wished their moms were as involved with their care as I was with Nathans and that they would have probably done more of the things they needed to do if their parents had been more involved. With that said, yes we want them to gain independence, but they need to know without any doubts whatsoever that we are here for them and that they do not have to do it alone, now while they are teens, or later when they are adults! <b>Never, not even one single time, have I ever heard a teen with CF say they wish their parents would leave them alone to deal with the disease</b>.</end quote></div>
I'll be the first then. I'm 17, and have had complete control over my health since I was ten. Before that, they came, but let me make the major decisons. My parents really only come to the hospital if i'm inpatient or need help getting home. Sometimes they help me set up iv stuff or whatever, but it's not everday.
Otherwise, all of it- doctors appointments, meds, tests- it's my body, and my disease.
I agree with amys mom- I dealt with my doctor, and not my parents. That kept me from fighting with my parents- if i didn't want to do something, they would tell me to call the clinic and talk about it with them. Again, my body, my issues.

I do wish my parents would let me deal with my own disease- because, frankly, it's mine, I'm going to be (hopefully) dealing with it for a good long time, and I don't want mommy and daddy holding my hand and making decisons for me.

I will say I've done much better overall then my friends with super invloved parents, especially with going away and still taking care of myself. Nothing really changed for me. I also didn't have hormonal fights with my parents about treatments, because they didn't do anything.

 

[AnnaH]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>I have heard from many CF patients over the last 14 years that they wished their moms were as involved with their care as I was with Nathans and that they would have probably done more of the things they needed to do if their parents had been more involved. With that said, yes we want them to gain independence, but they need to know without any doubts whatsoever that we are here for them and that they do not have to do it alone, now while they are teens, or later when they are adults! <b>Never, not even one single time, have I ever heard a teen with CF say they wish their parents would leave them alone to deal with the disease</b>.</end quote>
I'll be the first then. I'm 17, and have had complete control over my health since I was ten. Before that, they came, but let me make the major decisons. My parents really only come to the hospital if i'm inpatient or need help getting home. Sometimes they help me set up iv stuff or whatever, but it's not everday.
Otherwise, all of it- doctors appointments, meds, tests- it's my body, and my disease.
I agree with amys mom- I dealt with my doctor, and not my parents. That kept me from fighting with my parents- if i didn't want to do something, they would tell me to call the clinic and talk about it with them. Again, my body, my issues.

I do wish my parents would let me deal with my own disease- because, frankly, it's mine, I'm going to be (hopefully) dealing with it for a good long time, and I don't want mommy and daddy holding my hand and making decisons for me.

I will say I've done much better overall then my friends with super invloved parents, especially with going away and still taking care of myself. Nothing really changed for me. I also didn't have hormonal fights with my parents about treatments, because they didn't do anything.

 

[AnnaH]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>I have heard from many CF patients over the last 14 years that they wished their moms were as involved with their care as I was with Nathans and that they would have probably done more of the things they needed to do if their parents had been more involved. With that said, yes we want them to gain independence, but they need to know without any doubts whatsoever that we are here for them and that they do not have to do it alone, now while they are teens, or later when they are adults! <b>Never, not even one single time, have I ever heard a teen with CF say they wish their parents would leave them alone to deal with the disease</b>.</end quote>
I'll be the first then. I'm 17, and have had complete control over my health since I was ten. Before that, they came, but let me make the major decisons. My parents really only come to the hospital if i'm inpatient or need help getting home. Sometimes they help me set up iv stuff or whatever, but it's not everday.
Otherwise, all of it- doctors appointments, meds, tests- it's my body, and my disease.
I agree with amys mom- I dealt with my doctor, and not my parents. That kept me from fighting with my parents- if i didn't want to do something, they would tell me to call the clinic and talk about it with them. Again, my body, my issues.

I do wish my parents would let me deal with my own disease- because, frankly, it's mine, I'm going to be (hopefully) dealing with it for a good long time, and I don't want mommy and daddy holding my hand and making decisons for me.

I will say I've done much better overall then my friends with super invloved parents, especially with going away and still taking care of myself. Nothing really changed for me. I also didn't have hormonal fights with my parents about treatments, because they didn't do anything.

 

[katyf13]

I have some advice. Find an older person in your cf community (through the clinic perhaps) who can be a positive role model. She might feel alone. When Mike was in the hospital, he would go around to younger patients and get them out of their "funk". When they saw what a positive, happy individual he was, and how motivated he was to get a transplant, it really inspired them to take better care of themselves. I know a couple of them who used to refuse treatments and sit in darkened rooms all day. Now they are compliant and have good spirits. Knowing that the future can be okay no matter what the situation can be motivating. They are wonderful people who just needed someone to look up to. I am so proud of my Mike and I wish he was still here to talk to your daughter. And he too went through phases when he was a teen of rebelling against his disease.

 

[katyf13]

I have some advice. Find an older person in your cf community (through the clinic perhaps) who can be a positive role model. She might feel alone. When Mike was in the hospital, he would go around to younger patients and get them out of their "funk". When they saw what a positive, happy individual he was, and how motivated he was to get a transplant, it really inspired them to take better care of themselves. I know a couple of them who used to refuse treatments and sit in darkened rooms all day. Now they are compliant and have good spirits. Knowing that the future can be okay no matter what the situation can be motivating. They are wonderful people who just needed someone to look up to. I am so proud of my Mike and I wish he was still here to talk to your daughter. And he too went through phases when he was a teen of rebelling against his disease.

 

[katyf13]

I have some advice. Find an older person in your cf community (through the clinic perhaps) who can be a positive role model. She might feel alone. When Mike was in the hospital, he would go around to younger patients and get them out of their "funk". When they saw what a positive, happy individual he was, and how motivated he was to get a transplant, it really inspired them to take better care of themselves. I know a couple of them who used to refuse treatments and sit in darkened rooms all day. Now they are compliant and have good spirits. Knowing that the future can be okay no matter what the situation can be motivating. They are wonderful people who just needed someone to look up to. I am so proud of my Mike and I wish he was still here to talk to your daughter. And he too went through phases when he was a teen of rebelling against his disease.

 

[katyf13]

I have some advice. Find an older person in your cf community (through the clinic perhaps) who can be a positive role model. She might feel alone. When Mike was in the hospital, he would go around to younger patients and get them out of their "funk". When they saw what a positive, happy individual he was, and how motivated he was to get a transplant, it really inspired them to take better care of themselves. I know a couple of them who used to refuse treatments and sit in darkened rooms all day. Now they are compliant and have good spirits. Knowing that the future can be okay no matter what the situation can be motivating. They are wonderful people who just needed someone to look up to. I am so proud of my Mike and I wish he was still here to talk to your daughter. And he too went through phases when he was a teen of rebelling against his disease.

 

[katyf13]

I have some advice. Find an older person in your cf community (through the clinic perhaps) who can be a positive role model. She might feel alone. When Mike was in the hospital, he would go around to younger patients and get them out of their "funk". When they saw what a positive, happy individual he was, and how motivated he was to get a transplant, it really inspired them to take better care of themselves. I know a couple of them who used to refuse treatments and sit in darkened rooms all day. Now they are compliant and have good spirits. Knowing that the future can be okay no matter what the situation can be motivating. They are wonderful people who just needed someone to look up to. I am so proud of my Mike and I wish he was still here to talk to your daughter. And he too went through phases when he was a teen of rebelling against his disease.