For parents who have teenagers already, it goes without saying that “rebellious” and “teenager” are practically synonymous— and for a good reason. In fact, rebelliousness and testing out limits is a natural and even healthy part of the growing-up process!
It’s a period in a person’s life where they assert their independence and prve who they are as a person rather than simply a child. Yet, however healthy and normal this stage of behavior may be, it can be a real headache for parents looking a little respect.
In some extreme cases, parents may even find themselves having to turn to the police to help them with their reckless and rebellious teenager. The good news is that no matter how rebellious your team is, there is hope for you with the right strategy. With little guidance and a whole lot of love, you can navigate the tumultuous storm of the rebellious teen years. Here are some of the best tips for getting started.
Speak Openly
when you’re the parent of younger children it’s easy to sugarcoat certain subjects. You may want to shield your child from the harsh realities of the world. However, being open and honest is critical comes to your relationship with your teens. Allow them the space to be open and honest, and free to be themselves.
The more you give them to freedom to express themselves, the more likely they are to come to you when they need advice. If teenagers feel like you’re nothing but a source of criticism and discipline, it’s only natural they rebel against you. Encourage conversations and you’ll see a dramatic decrease in rebelliousness because you have formed a friendship.
Set Boundaries
Being compassionate doesn’t have to mean being passive. Believe it or not, it’s possible to love and care for your child without having to tolerate a bad attitude or mistreatment. Let it be known that certain behaviors and attitudes will not be tolerated.
The more clearly you can express your rules, boundaries, and expectations, the more you’ll reinforce the message that these roles are necessary and obligatory. Above all, make sure that these boundaries come with well-established consequences. Consequences are a natural part of life and will help your team prepare for the real world.
Choose Your Battles
Remember, not every little thing calls for a full-fledged argument or battle. Don’t let every issue transform into an argument or power struggle. Focus on issues that directly affect their health and well-being long term, and the rest of the time, unfortunately, you may just have to let things slide.
If you create a battle out of every single thing you disagree with, then you wouldn’t just harm your relationship, you would exhaust yourself. Learn to prioritize what’s worth bringing up, and what’s worth letting go.
Provide Encouragement
Remember— even though your teen is rebellious and possibly even driving you crazy, that’s not to say that they shouldn’t be encouraged once in a while. In addition to bringing up what your teenager is doing wrong, don’t forget the importance of bringing up what they’re doing right.
Provide positive reinforcement whenever possible, and encourage the idea that positive behavior leads to positive results and feedback.
