| Every teenager's gotta blast through a rebellion period | | | | means necessary in order to gaze at the big screen |
| at one stage in their lives or other. It doesn't have to be | | | | for hours. |
| a white-hot, out-and-out revolt. You know. It's the one | | | | Enough! In so many ways, you're getting the general |
| with house-shattering, door-slamming tantrums spiced | | | | drift here, right? Kids know you like a palm of their own |
| with shouting matches the whole neighborhood's ears | | | | hand. They know what you'll give in to. And that's |
| can feast on. | | | | almost from the first few days after birth. Scary and |
| And it need not be anything blatantly "screaming" at | | | | exciting at the same time, isn't it? |
| you to recognize it at first glance. | | | | These web-of-intrigue games only heap on and rack |
| All that matters is this: Teens begin to assert | | | | up a notch or two when kids reach the teenage years. |
| themselves one day so you notice them through their | | | | How far can they exploit the home pastures in their |
| rebellion behavior. It must be encoded in all of us | | | | search for independence now? |
| somewhere. So, it's a reasonable expectation to have | | | | You've gotta watch it closely, though. A variable-scale |
| during upbringing a child. | | | | mutiny might be your teen's way of telling you that all's |
| This form of revolt is often a manner of grabbing your | | | | not right in their world. It might be the only way they |
| attention. And it's their 'down-and-dirty way' for them to | | | | feel comfortable with to get your undivided attention. |
| test you along the way. | | | | What if a well-adjusted teen starts to rebel all of a |
| Experiment a little and take notes. Take a closer look | | | | sudden with no rhyme or reason that you can see? |
| at your teen's behavior. You'll discover that most of | | | | There's always a reason. It could even be just to push |
| their days are spent in testing you in a wide range of | | | | your hot buttons and have some fun in their life, which |
| ways, or even shock waves. Let's see exactly how | | | | may seem boring at the time. Crikey! |
| far they can push you by pressing your hottest | | | | You are the closest person they can reach to. To |
| buttons. | | | | make their world right again, and noticing your first clue, |
| Depending on how you respond to their 'innocent and | | | | take a big breath, sit down and talk with them. |
| unauthorized' testing, they vary their tactics with a | | | | The time's come to reach down into YOUR life's |
| great skill. Over time, they uncover exact tricks that | | | | bag-of-tricks so you don't miss the important |
| yield the wanted reaction from you to their claims or | | | | preventive moments in your teenager's development. |
| actions. In short, they'll be able to read you like a book - | | | | Don't brush'em off. Give them genuine attention. Sit |
| if you refuse to gently outsmart the angels turned | | | | down. Listen. Discuss. And listen again. Aha. Hmmm. I |
| bandits. | | | | see. How can I help? What do you think you need to |
| Come to think of it, they've been up to these little | | | | do? |
| minitricks since the day the stork left your doorstep. | | | | Let them decide and make mistakes. As you already |
| What will you give in to next? That's the whole reason | | | | know, most of life lessons need to be lived to be |
| they "train" you to rush to their side when they cry, or | | | | understood. |
| give in to their pleas for one more toy. Bet you | | | | In the current "parental times" of workaholics |
| remember that clearly, right? | | | | anonymous, feeling trapped, inability to sleep, and |
| To rub it in, they know that a bad behavior at home is | | | | constant worries about inadequate time spent with |
| not tolerated well. But hey, a fit thrown in the middle of | | | | your family, here's your chance to develop better |
| a store to embarrass you, now that's powerful | | | | parenting skills through a hands-on approach. |
| ammunition. As a result, they either get what they | | | | I know. It sounds "first-aidish'. And it is. Being there for |
| want (maybe not), or they get dragged back home | | | | your children often helps a lot. And it does wonders for |
| immediately for an urgent reprimand. | | | | building a better relationship with your teenagers and |
| But wait, getting home 'earlier' might be just what they | | | | their self-esteem. It's fairly simple to do. It costs almost |
| wanted anyway in the first place. 'Cause there's that | | | | nothing, but can bring about pleasant, long-lasting |
| hot new movie they wanted to watch, they'd use any | | | | changes for "both sides of the story. |