Fathers turn coach as tweens move into teens
MANY parents find it a significant challenge once their child enter the later tweens, as they near the onset of the teenage years. "What am I doing wrong?", "Why does he (or she) not listen to me as before?", "How do I get through to him (or her) now?". These might be a few of the questions being asked. It can be an emotionally trying period for all. Suddenly (or so it seems), the easy and unquestioning lead that the child took from his or her parent is not being pursued; instead the relationship is fraught with questions and arguments. Edwin Choy, co-founder of the Centre for Fathering begins a multi-part article on how parents, especially the father can cope, as they transit from being unchallenged leaders to their
children to more appropriate coaches.