4 Big Mistakes Your Child Might Make

Being a parent is difficult no matter what stage your child is in. When they're babies and toddlers, they rely on you for their every need. As they get older, they gain a little more independence with each passing year. Soon, your baby is a teenager and you wonder how the years flew by so fast.

It may be the teenage years that prove the most challenging. You hope you've equipped your child with all the wisdom and knowledge to make the right choices, but now your child is nearly an adult and just as curious as ever.

This is the time that many children may make what parents determine to be their biggest mistakes. Here are some common mistakes your child might make, and options for how to handle them.

1. Teenage Pregnancy

You can't keep your teenager locked in their room, though sometimes you probably wish you could. If your teenager ends up in a pregnancy, whether your child is male or female, unfortunately this is going to be a time of growing up for them. There are some big decisions to be made, and whatever they are, they are going to impact your child for the rest of their life.

One of the most important things you can do as a parent is be the kind of parent your child can come to when they're in trouble. You may feel disappointment now, but your love will overcome that disappointment and life will go on.

If it's possible, get both children involved in the same room and discuss options. There might be situations when this isn't possible, but if it is, the parents and the children should have input on what happens next. Know that you have adoption options if there is no one in the immediate family who is able to take on raising a young child.

In the end, both children will benefit from this event if it is handled with compassion and understanding. This could happen to anyone's child. It's unfortunate that the child was yours.

2. Dropping Out of School

If your teenager is particularly strong willed, it can be difficult to influence them with persuasion. If a child is adamant about dropping out of school, it could prove futile to try to force their attendance. After all, once you're out of sight what's to stop them from walking back out?

Dropping out of school is a big mistake, but sometimes you have to let life's lessons play out, as painful as it may be to watch. If your child drops out of school, make sure they immediately get a job to help support themselves since they are ready for the real world.

The best thing that could happen is your teenager decides it was a mistake and re-enrolls. If they don't, they still have options in a few years when they're more mature. There are programs so adults can still get their high school diploma.

3. Drugs or Alcohol

Children learn about addiction at an early age thanks to community programs aimed at keeping them out of trouble. In the 80s the catch phrase was, "Just say no." Even though every child had access to those programs, there were still some that went on to use anyway.

It's impossible to predict which child will use and which one won't. The important thing is when you discover the abuse you need to get them help. In this situation, you may be able to force your hand. Most states in the U.S. will allow a parent to enroll their child in a juvenile drug rehabilitation program against their child's will.

Drug abuse is a serious problem because once the habit is formed it can be extremely difficult to break. Stopping the cycle while they're still young gives them a better chance as an adult.

As with any situation, it's important to have compassion for your child. They are not a failure and they are not a "druggie." They may have a developing illness, which is why it's important to treat it early.

4. The Bully

If you see signs your child may be a bully, it's time to have a heart to heart talk. Many parents ignore this type of behavior and the bully goes on to make life miserable for someone else's child. This type of behavior can have long lasting effects on the person who was bullied, and it could possibly haunt your own child as well. At some point, they're going to feel guilty for their mistreatment.

It's likely that by listening to you and understanding that behavior is not okay they'll change their habits. If not, get them into counseling, because it's possible something is going on in their own life with which they are having a hard time coping.

Growing up is hard, and hormones start raging so fast. Your child might be the sweetest child in the world until one day you wake up and realize you have a teenager. Be there for them. It's not easy.