spacer gif

New Parents And Teens Child Parenting
Good Parents and Kids Parenting Tips

Home      

Baby Names Meanings

Top 100 baby names

American Baby Boy Names

gre

This Parental Control Software Shows You Everything Your Child Does Online When You're Not There.

With an estimated One MILLION pedophiles online, you need parental controls to protect your children from child molesters and sexual predators. Click For More Info

spacer gif

The baby sleep solution | Baby shower games | Secret to baby modeling success | Baby sign language | Planning baby showers | Baby boy names |


spacer gif


Share |


You are free to use content from this page in your blog or website, in return for a link back to this page from that blog or website.



Top 10 Things To Never Believe From Your Teenager


1) It's not my (pot, beer, cigarettes, etc.), I'm just keeping it for someone else.

Yeah right. The next question for the parent to ask is, "If you are keeping this for your friend, what is your friend keeping for you'" One of the reasons parents can get fooled here is that you so desperately want to believe that it is not theirs and they are not doing drugs. It's important to remember that this is something your teen might be counting on.

2) When caught with drugs - This is just the first time I've tried it.

Unlikely. Usually when kids get caught with and/or using some drugs, they have been doing it awhile. They have simply slipped up, gotten caught, and are trying to find a quick way out of it.

3) We don' have homework in that class

Sometimes this is true. Or they have already done it at school. Often times it's a good excuse for not doing homework, or for covering up for skipping class. Either way, it's one of the easiest to check out by talking with the teacher. Which parents need to be doing anyway.

4) The teacher doesn't like me

Maybe so. This is usually just a handy excuse for bad grades or getting in trouble. Either way, it's the kid's job to find a way to make it work, even if the teacher doesn't like them. It's simply practice for the real world, where not everyone is going to like you; sometimes even bosses or co-workers. The interesting thing about this one is the teens solution to the problem. It goes something like this - "Well, the teacher doesn't like me, so I'll show them by flunking the class." And who is this hurting'

5) Of course there will be parents at the party

The answer to this one is, "If that's true, then you certainly won't mind me calling up your friend's parents to see if there is anything I can do to help."

6) Everyone else gets to do it, so why can't I'

Another popular one designed to make parents feel guilty and old fashioned, so they will give in to something they think is wrong. My mother had a wonderfully confusing answer to this one; "If everyone else stood on their head in the middle of the street at three in the morning in their underwear, would you'" Probably would have.

7) Everyone drinks and smokes. There's not a single person my age who doesn't.

Many, many teenagers do. But not each and every one. I know of plenty who do not and have a very good time with what they do. Another one designed to get parents to tolerate behavior they don't like.

8) If you let me off just this once, I'll promise I'll never do it again.

Another one parents want so badly to believe. Unfortunately, what the teenager usually learns here is that the parent really doesn't mean it about consequences. While in some ways it might be easier to let them off the hook, it teaches very little about the real world.

9 & 10) Give me one good reason why I can't do that!

This one gets two places because it is so common and so important. The crucial part not to believe here is that they are really asking for a legitimate answer to the question. After giving a well reasoned adult answer, here is something you will not hear from your teenager, "Well, thank you for explaining it that way to me folks! And now that you have, not only do I no longer what to do that, I'm embarrassed and ashamed for asking. Please forgive me and good night." If your teen ever says this, call me quickly, something is really wrong!

Jeff Herring, MS, LMFT, is a marriage and family therapist specializing in working with teenagers and their parents. A nationally syndicated relationship columnist and speaker, Jeff is also the founder and CEO of http://www.ParentingYourTeenager.com, where you can subscribe to his f'ree internet newsletter "ParentingYourTeenager." E-mail Jeff at jeff@parentingyourteenager.com



GUITAR ROCK DECAL WALL VINYL DECOR MUSIC TEENAGER HOME LETTERING WORD ART PUNK
$5.99 (0 Bids)
End Date: Wednesday Feb-8-2012 9:21:37 PST
Buy It Now for only: $8.99
Buy It Now | Bid now | Add to watch list

Personalized Sweet 16 Birthday Picture Frame 16th Birthday Teenager Photo Frame
$21.95
End Date: Monday Mar-5-2012 11:49:50 PST
Buy It Now for only: $21.95
Buy It Now | Add to watch list

2 Packs of 10 Air Fill Birthday Balloons ages 1-17 FREE POST AND PACKING
$4.13
End Date: Monday Feb-13-2012 13:09:57 PST
Buy It Now for only: $4.13
Buy It Now | Add to watch list

13TH BIRTHDAY TEENAGER PARTY PACK Banner Balloons Candle Mega Badge GIRL or BOY
$7.29
End Date: Monday Feb-20-2012 5:41:29 PST
Buy It Now for only: $7.29
Buy It Now | Add to watch list

13TH BIRTHDAY NEW TEENAGER PARTY BANNER & BALLOONS
$3.32
End Date: Saturday Feb-11-2012 2:38:05 PST
Buy It Now for only: $3.32
Buy It Now | Add to watch list

Sticko Teens Teenager Brat Captions Phrases Stickers
$1.10
End Date: Sunday Mar-4-2012 16:55:45 PST
Buy It Now for only: $1.10
Buy It Now | Add to watch list

TEEN DRIVER cake decorating kit birthday teenager test
$7.25
End Date: Saturday Mar-3-2012 3:57:22 PST
Buy It Now for only: $7.25
Buy It Now | Add to watch list

Cute Door Hanging for Teenager's Room
$0.99 (0 Bids)
End Date: Wednesday Feb-8-2012 11:07:47 PST
Bid now | Add to watch list

2 Packs of 10 Air Fill Birthday Balloons ages 1-17
$3.10
End Date: Saturday Feb-11-2012 12:08:50 PST
Buy It Now for only: $3.10
Buy It Now | Add to watch list

Loft bed frame for college dorm room or teenager room
$135.00
End Date: Tuesday Feb-21-2012 15:53:28 PST
Buy It Now for only: $135.00
Buy It Now | Add to watch list

Pink 13th Teenager Birthday Girl Sash Fancydress
$7.13
End Date: Thursday Mar-8-2012 2:37:47 PST
Buy It Now for only: $7.13
Buy It Now | Add to watch list

spacer gif spacer gif spacer gif
home | Parenting site map | Privacy policy
Copyright © 2011 parenting.babyinfocenter.com