DESPITE parenting being the toughest job in the world, you are expected to hit the ground running from day one, without training and with no instruction manual.

No wonder Billie Piper and other celebrity mums report feeling tired. It can also get tougher as your children hit their teenage years.

The recent survey that reveals parents are not appreciated by their children until they get older could add insult to injury, especially for parents dealing with teenage behaviour in today’s world.

While there are times we all need support to cope with our teenagers, we can sometimes be slow to ask for help, often out of embarrassment.

As a national charity, our 24 hour Parentline on 0808 800 2222 is there when parents need to call about issues they don’t feel able to discuss with their friends, neighbours or family.

Rather than letting an issue build up, it’s often better to talk to someone.

Another way to get the support you need to help deal with their behaviour can be found online at www.gotateenager.org.uk or text 84400 with a key word like ‘alcohol’ to get a response by text.

While your teenagers grow old by another decade in order to learn that you were right after all, our online jargon buster will handily translate their ‘teenglish’ into understandable language for you right now.

This can at least help you tackle what is often the toughest time in parenthood.

Leanne Hubbard, Area Manager, Parentline Plus, Wessex House, Upper Market Street, Eastleigh, Hampshire, SO50 9FD.