Why you shouldn't try to be your teen's friend

runawaybunny

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Why you shouldn't try to be your teen's friend - Essential Kids

Middle daughter slams the door. "I hate you. What sort of mother are you?" she screams as I take her phone off her late at night.

It's the night before I'm due to interview the teen whisperer, psychologist Michael Hawton. I hold my fists tightly behind my back.

Parenting is the hardest job I have ever done. On a good day, I would ignore my darling's rudeness. But tonight, I hit back. "I'll send you to live with your father, or to boarding school!" I yell.

"At least he's nice!" my 14-year-old strikes back.

And what does Hawton say in his new book, Engaging Adolescents? My frustrated teen has spat an insult my way. I should look her straight in the eye and come out with this: "You must have had a pretty bad day to feel the need to say something that nasty to me when we are trying to work out a solution to a problem. I hope you feel better."
 

Littleboylost

Long road but the path ahead holds hope.
God co need a parenting coach. My buttons get pushed all the time. However to my support my son drives a lot of his support workers and bail officer nuts as well. He is noted by the courts and bail office as high risk. No wonder he pushes my buttons.
 
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