October, 2004
by Shannon K. Spellman, M.S.W.
Adolescents have some sort of expertise in power struggles and they seem to be highly skilled at exhausting parents.
As a parent, one of the best responses to have is to make the struggle as brief as possible. You will be much less exhausted and you rarely win when you hang in there for hours anyway.
Your teen is not likely to admit you're right even when he/she knows you are, and if you're waiting for that, you'll be old and they'll be grown before it happens.
So deliver your message quickly and then get out! Leave the room, or leave the house if necessary. Learn to time your responses so that you always have an immediate escape. If you don't have one, then wait to respond until you do. Adolescents will often become bored easily when no one is struggling back.
©2004-2009. Hiding Star Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved.
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Meanwhile, thanks for caring about adolescents and striving for responsible parenting.
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