Parents cannot shackle themselves to their teenager and oversee every decision he makes throughout his adolescence – and we wouldn’t want to. We want our teenagers to know when and how to protect themselves against negative peer pressure, teen drug use, bad grades in school, etc. We want them to learn how to grab their own boot straps and pick themselves up. This is called teaching resiliency. Learn about the five factors that contribute to becoming a resilient person.

As noted in an article by the Chicago Sun-Times, an extensive survey was conducted of more than 1,280 people ages 13-24 by the Associated Press and MTV on various things concerning happiness. The top answer to the question, ‘What makes you happy?' was… wait for it… ‘spending time with family’! How exciting is that?!? I feel validated in the media for once, how about you? Leave a comment and let me know what you think.

More: Things to Do With or For Your Teen | 5 Reasons to Observe Family Traditions