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Fathers and Sons
Embracing the Changes
By Teri Brown
Looking at the Positives
Adolescence is an amazing time, both for the adolescent and the family. Teens are wrestling with some of life's most profound questions, and parents are often reenergized by their kid's endeavors. If communication is 
nurtured, it can be a wonderful time for learning about a child in fresh and surprising ways as new ideas emerge and grow. The trick is to set boundaries while allowing gradual emancipation. The following tips from Lowenstein can help fathers maintain a close connection with their teen sons:
- Be involved. Pay attention and show interest in daily activities, such as school, sports practice, friends, after school job, etc.
- Be consistent. Decide (with your spouse) which rules are bendable and which are not and maintain consistency with the unbendable ones so your teen knows what to expect. This fosters good relationships during turbulent times.
- Be aware of what is important to your child. It may not matter who won the Superbowl. The things important to you may not be important to him.
- Be nurturing. There are ways to do this without being "touchy feely," but show affection – don't reserve hugs or pats on the back.