Teen Attitude, Teen Trouble
Eleven ideas for parenting a difficult teenager.
   Adolescents are famous for giving their parents grief, so you know
   you’re not alone in finding it hard to parent a teenager. It’s actually
   some of the trouble your teen is causing you is necessary to their
   But if your teen is openly insolent, refuses to do household chores,
   doing everything you can to solve the problem of a problem teen.
   Here are eleven ways to rein your teen challenges back into the healthy
   A hot debate is a great way for your teenager to discover what you care
   and your teenager are arguing a lot, as long as there’s also love and
   Just like a toddler who challenges the rules, teens feel safest when
   yourself sane and reasonable when interacting with your teen. If none
   of your usual methods work—that is, if your teen has totally pushed
   teen, a few minutes when you can listen and hear anything they might
   Being a teenager can feel impossible, as the teen experiences all the
   When your teenager is making you crazy, try completing this sentence in
   empathy, even as you over-react to your teen’s over-reactions.
   One of the reasons it’s hard to be a teenager is the pervasive sense of
   others, but teens are painfully, brutally aware, and believe that
   Trust your teen to figure out the small stuff, even if it means they’re
   No matter the provocation, make sure your teen feels your positive
   a) Ask your teenager what they need in order to want to be at home.
   Note: You can count on your teen to challenge the house rules until
   7.  Listen. Support your teen in solving their own problems.
   When your teenager seems troubled, let them know you’re happy to listen
   When your teen does want to talk, be fully present (no distractions, no
   in an adolescent’s life. Do what you can to encourage your teen to
   Other adults can provide alternative perspectives when your teenager is
   Many teens feel dramatically misunderstood by their parents, and
   9. Let your teen suffer the natural consequences of their actions, as
   It’s better your teenager learn about natural consequences while they
   If your teenager drops their dirty clothes on the floor, they won’t
   it.) If your teenager doesn’t do their homework, or doesn’t attend
   Teenagers experience a conflict between the need to be a totally unique
   teenage nightmare, I found a photo of her as a sweet four-year-old. I
   seriously troubled teenager (drugs, violence, etc.), it’s time to look
   still have before your teenager is an adult. Follow these ten
   More ideas about parenting problem adolescents:
   “Inside Your Teenager’s Scary Brain,” by Tamsin McMahon
   You and Your Adolescent, by Laurence Steinberg
   “Gameplan for Positive Parenting Your Teen,” by Laura Markham
   “Parenting Adolescents and the Problems of Letting Go,” by Carl
   “Five Basics of Parenting Adolescents,” by Raising Teens Project,
   PDF of the five research-based basics of parenting adolescents, from
   “A Parent’s Guide to Surviving the Teen Years,” by KidsHealth
    “7 Keys to Handling Difficult Teenagers,” by Preston Ni
   also humbly suggest that parents/teens/families also develop extended
   four books about children, adolescents and education.
     * Negotiating Incompatible Differences with Your Adolescent
     * When Parents and Adolescent Get Stuck in a Hard Place
     * Why Adolescents Lead Double Lives
     * Adolescence and Ambivalence Growing Up