Being a teenager can have many ups and downs, some of which can make it difficult for you to make sense of as a parent. If your teen has been exhibiting a change in mood and you are not sure if they are depressed, here are some things you should know.

What's the Difference?

While most teenagers can seem rather moody and typically want to isolate themselves, these are some of the most common behaviors exhibited by teenagers. However, if you notice any drastic changes in your child's behavior, you should pay close attention to make sure there isn't an underlying issue going on. According to the Transformation Treatment Center, common signs of depression in teenagers are a rise in school truancy, declining grades, unusual emotional sensitivity or volatility, new involvement in alcohol or drug use, an unusual avoidance of social contact, or the appearance of "cutting" or other self-harming behaviors. If you find that your teen has turned to drugs as a form of coping treatment centers can help them overcome their addiction while promoting mental health as well.

What to Expect During the Teen Years

As your child becomes older, it is perfectly normal for them to prefer spending time with their friends over you. Although you might feel hurt by this, your teenager is just expanding their social circle and is becoming more independent, which means they'll be less dependent on you and the family for emotional support. During this time, you may also notice that your child's mood is becoming more irritable and they tend to be restless or even lethargic at times.

LoveToKnow reminds us that before you go dialing the depression hotline, remember that your teenager is going through lots of hormonal changes, and their mood and energy levels will be affected. But if you notice that your teen is isolating themselves from everyone and is extremely irritable for no apparent reason, you may want to keep a closer eye on them to make sure everything is okay.

Total Personality Changes

DiscoverPlace teaches that while a change in mood is to be expected when your teen is becoming an adolescent, a total personality shift may be a sign of something more serious. If your child has always been very bubbly, outgoing, and happy yet is now totally withdrawn, never smiles, and acting very angry, there may be a deeper issue.

Just because your teen is moody doesn't mean they are depressed; however, when you notice drastic changes in behavior, you should take heed. If your gut is gnawing at you, don't just write off the moodiness as growing pains because it could be deeper than that.

Teens need their sleep! Click here to learn how to overcome Sleep Deprivation!

Teaching your child valuable life lessons can start when they're at a young age. As a parent, it is your job to nurture and encourage your kids so that they enter adulthood with a wide range of healthy life habits to build upon. Here are three habits that you should instill in your children early in life.

Emotional Control

NSPT4Kids teaches that one of the biggest challenges of raising children is teaching them how to control their emotions. You can lay the groundwork for this control by encouraging them to talk about their feelings in healthy and constructive ways. You can also show them how to identify coping strategies to deal with unpleasant emotions. Some ideas include going to a quiet space to relax and squeezing a stress ball. Always approach these lessons with kindness and patience so that your child does not feel under too much pressure to perform to a certain standard.

Healthy Eating

Kate’s Real Food teaches that children, including adolescents, need to develop healthy eating habits when they are young. You can do your part by making healthy food available to them. Being committed to family dinnertime will also help to instill healthy eating habits. Be sure to focus on whole foods and encourage your children to limit their consumption of processed food products. Always have healthy food on hand so that you can teach your kids how nourishing foods will give them energy and make them feel their best. Healthy eating habits that start young are more likely to continue as they get older.

Financial Intelligence

Family Living Today says that it is never too early to start teaching your kids about developing strong financial habits. This learning process starts with being a good role model for your child with your own financial intelligence. You can involve your children in your household budgeting and shopping so that they begin to get a good idea of how this works in the real world. It is also a good idea to teach kids how to save for something that they really want rather than blowing their money on frivolous expenditures. Let your children make mistakes with money now when it can become a learning experience.

Remember that positive encouragement goes a long way in teaching your children all of these healthy habits. Be sure to praise your child when they make good choices for themselves and their future.

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Having children is one of life's greatest pleasures. However, with all of this new love comes a host of changes that you must make to your everyday life. Here are three adjustments to think about as you grow your family.

House

Once you start expanding your family, you are likely going to want to expand your house as well. If you are not in the position to move into a new place, you may consider adding on to your existing home to make room for the new addition. While infants do not require a lot of room, you will eventually want to have more space for them as they grow. You will also need to take steps to make your home more family-friendly.

Vehicle

In addition to making sure your home is ready to handle all of the changes, you also need to make sure that you have sufficient transportation. It is no secret that a small sedan is probably not going to cut it when your family grows larger. There are several benefits of a 7-passenger SUV to take into consideration when choosing a new vehicle for your growing family. An SUV also boasts a host of active safety features designed to protect your family. While you are purchasing a vehicle to accommodate your growing family, you also need to make sure that you have the right car seats for the size of your children.

Vacation Adjustments

Your vacation habits will also change if you begin to grow your family past two children. Once your family increases to three or more children, a normal hotel room may not be enough to comfortably host your loved ones. All-suite hotels with an extra sleeping area are a great choice for large families. Renting a condo will save you money when you travel because you will have a kitchen to be able to prepare your own food. You will also need to adjust your habits when renting a vehicle so that you have enough room for your car seats and all of your luggage. While flying might have been your transport mode of choice before having children, the extra cost with additional passengers may necessitate that you focus more on road trips.

Growing your family is something that you will never regret. However, you need to plan ahead when thinking of adding a new family member. With the right planning, you can make this transition as smoothly as possible as you ease into this new season in life.

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