The First 2am Post

Hello and welcome to this first post on the 2.00am Parents' Club site.

I imagine if you are reading this, you are a parent whose teenager is out there in the night somewhere but you don't know where. Maybe you have been up often at 2am waiting for your teenager to come home having no idea where he or she is, worried sick and not sure what to do next, or who to turn to for help.

Perhaps you are feeling unable to turn any anger and frustration with the situation into positive energy with positive outcomes? or feeling helpless? or desperate? alone? ashamed? guilty? maybe tonight, you are so exhausted, you feel like giving up on your child? and the list of parental anxieties goes on... We will get to all of them and more, I am sure.

The intent behind this blog, is to connect with other parents in this situation who can offer support and advice on what they are doing, and how to cope with what seems like an insurmountable problem - especially when it is 2am or 3am in the morning and you are massively sleep deprived.

Maybe you are looking for some answers; maybe you can offer answers having been through this 'stage' already. This is a site to support parents who are struggling to cope with the challenges of raising teens. Especially young teens who don't come home at night. There's some rules for this blog. There's no space here for ranting or excessive emotive writing. Parenting is an emotional roller coaster. Every family is unique. I’d like to hear what you are going through but in a constructive way with a message in what you have to say. So take a deep breath before commenting.

Noone under the age of 18 can post comments - sorry, we know this is all about you, sort of, but this is a site for parents to have a space to air their worries, and hopefully, find some solutions and ways of coping. Comments can be up to 500 words maximum.

Experts in the fields of parenting, child psychology, alcohol and drug abuse, or from social and community support groups are encouraged to join the discussions. Parents who visit this site are looking for help, answers, support and guidance. So please, send a comment or email me with your comment.

In coming posts, I will share what I am going through with my own teenagers (I am in the early stages of a teenager's leap into dangerous territory), my learnings and my research. Take heart from the fact that you are not alone, and sleep deeply and peacefully.

Love and light to all.