Parenting and Teen Image

During adolescence physical changes are brought on by hormonal changes. These changes show them selves as breasts, menses, widening hips, and body hair in females along with body hair, enlargements of sexual organs, and the production of sperm in males. These hormonal changes also bring about mood and self-image changes. Media, magazines, and the over all view of society plays a huge role in how a typical teenager views ones-self during these years. However, I believe that it is a parent who provides the greatest comfort or lack of depending on the situation.

As a parent, we have the capability of helping our children alter the defects that hinder them and adjust to the things that they cannot change. For instance, my eldest daughter was cursed with higher hormone levels than normal. Her breasts began to form at six, her periods started at seven and her leg hair began at the same time. The kids at school made fun of her legs because they were tan w/ long dark hairs. When she came to me, I simply taught her to shave. Then came the issue of dirty blond hair and another case of peer hazing. As a parent, again the solution was easy. I took my then eleven-year-old child to the store and we purchased hair color. With in hours, not only was the awful, dirty looking hair color gone, but so was her negative self-image. Then came a time at twelve when I taught her to cover those unsightly blemishes with make up. Basically her entire preteen and beginning of her teen years were spent securing her self-esteem. If I had left this up to society, who knows where she would have been. But because I took an active role she continued to hold a high self-image and faces issues head on.