How to deal with an angsty teenager

Schedule time with your teen

Take him for drive, show him the banks of time.
Make him think about all the things,
Once a week, run with him, flee the bullets of anger and regret.
Do the chores, visit the store, buy things,
Things can always make him happy, right?

Set a sleep routine

Teens need that extra 24 hours of sleep
So when he wakes at noon, praise him
When you wake at 3 in the morning and there he sits at the screen,
Don't hesitate to use that brick to help him sleep
Maybe a little witch hazel in his tea.

Quiet time, darkness, screens off, early naps
Its good for them to to lay awake forever stewing in their brains
Concocting dark thoughts, thinking death in their beds
Make them this and make them that - recreate
Lost in the night.

Get moving

Exercise - hand him his earbuds and kick him out the door
Maybe he will run, or play basketball
He won't go to the nearest playground and lean against the walls
Better yet, go with him for walks
That way the other teens can see the proud parent
Getting happy exercise together.

Listen don't lecture

Prize out those stories and thoughts
What does he want from life and
When the answer is cars, girls, drugs
Don't laugh. Don't tell him that's the way to Hell
or untimely death.
Oh, and don't hate his music, dance to it instead.

Keep your cool

When you want to yell, don't
When you want to scold, don't
When you need to smack, hit the wall
Walk the dark street as he doesn't sleep
Keep the bugs and demons away.

Silly people

Just love him, hold on to him, message him in his own language,
cross your fingers and grab the bar for the whole roller coaster ride.