As parents, we can almost half expect our teens to reach a stage of wanting the ultimate freedom, back-talking, and blatant disregard for everyone else but themselves. Often short-lived, this phase of adolescence can be challenging for even the most laid-back adults, especially if you've got a strong-willed child that wants their own way.
One of the biggest things to consider when it comes to getting your teen to listen to you is to realize that you can't force them to obey - regardless of consequences. You might be taking away keys, cell phone privileges, nights out with friends, and even curfew, and your child will still act out and rebel. With adolescence comes the drive to do what you want to do when you want to do it - and it can end up causing excessive amounts of strife between parents and teenagers.
If you are in this particular stage of life and your teen is walking the line of disobedience, the best thing you can remember (as a parent) is not to play a dictator role; instead, remember to be the mother or father that your child needs. Taking an interest in their hobbies and activities is an excellent starting point toward garnering a better relationship between your teen and yourself. It can be a segway into conversations that might otherwise be ultimately very challenging.
In these conversations, explain why you are making the rules and guidelines that you want your teen to follow. It's easy to say "no" to your child when they want to do something; however, it can give a bit more insight to your teen when you lay down some rules ahead of time and explain why you want things done a certain way.
Often, you might have to ask yourself, "why not?" in place of a solid "no."
For example, does your child want to cut their hair? Get a piercing? Maybe even get a tattoo? Instead of immediately throwing out a reprimand, ask yourself the harm behind what your child wants to do. Then, remind them of the possible consequences, and then make your decisions from there.
This is all to say that you might have to end up picking your battles. Is it worth the fighting and disobeying that you might encounter from your teen just because they want to do something that, in the long run, isn't that big of a deal? If your child is willing to discuss these opportunities with you now, then they'll undoubtedly be more than likely to talk with you about the harder stuff that crosses their path as they move into young adulthood. While this isn't a one-size-fits-all for getting your teen to stop disobeying you, it's a step in the right direction to getting on the same level as your child and figuring out how to better communicate with them.
If you are still craving a bit more discipline with your teenager, reach out to the specialists at Liahona Academy. There are several different therapy approaches available for teens that can help get their behavior back on track and begin to improve their mental and emotional health. Contact Liahona today to figure out how they can help you and your teen begin a healthy relationship!
How Do I Get My Teenage Son to Stop Disobeying Me?
As parents, we can almost half expect our teens to reach a stage of wanting the ultimate freedom, back-talking, and blatant disregard for everyone else but themselves. Often short-lived, this phase of adolescence can be challenging for even the most laid-back adults, especially if you've got a strong-willed child that wants their own way.
One of the biggest things to consider when it comes to getting your teen to listen to you is to realize that you can't force them to obey - regardless of consequences. You might be taking away keys, cell phone privileges, nights out with friends, and even curfew, and your child will still act out and rebel. With adolescence comes the drive to do what you want to do when you want to do it - and it can end up causing excessive amounts of strife between parents and teenagers.
If you are in this particular stage of life and your teen is walking the line of disobedience, the best thing you can remember (as a parent) is not to play a dictator role; instead, remember to be the mother or father that your child needs. Taking an interest in their hobbies and activities is an excellent starting point toward garnering a better relationship between your teen and yourself. It can be a segway into conversations that might otherwise be ultimately very challenging.
In these conversations, explain why you are making the rules and guidelines that you want your teen to follow. It's easy to say "no" to your child when they want to do something; however, it can give a bit more insight to your teen when you lay down some rules ahead of time and explain why you want things done a certain way.
Often, you might have to ask yourself, "why not?" in place of a solid "no."
For example, does your child want to cut their hair? Get a piercing? Maybe even get a tattoo? Instead of immediately throwing out a reprimand, ask yourself the harm behind what your child wants to do. Then, remind them of the possible consequences, and then make your decisions from there.
This is all to say that you might have to end up picking your battles. Is it worth the fighting and disobeying that you might encounter from your teen just because they want to do something that, in the long run, isn't that big of a deal? If your child is willing to discuss these opportunities with you now, then they'll undoubtedly be more than likely to talk with you about the harder stuff that crosses their path as they move into young adulthood. While this isn't a one-size-fits-all for getting your teen to stop disobeying you, it's a step in the right direction to getting on the same level as your child and figuring out how to better communicate with them.
If you are still craving a bit more discipline with your teenager, reach out to the specialists at Liahona Academy. There are several different therapy approaches available for teens that can help get their behavior back on track and begin to improve their mental and emotional health. Contact Liahona today to figure out how they can help you and your teen begin a healthy relationship!
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