Do you find yourself in a constant battle with your teen or tween? Are these battles leaving your house feeling more like a war zone then a home? Getting into
a power struggle with your child weakens your parental control and just makes for an unhappy living arrangement. Balancing your need for parental control and
your child’s growing need for independence will help you to avoid these power
struggles. Here are some ideas for
maintaining this balance:
*Acknowledge your child’s need for
independence. Begin turning over
some of the more minor decision making to them.
*Say yes when you can and if you have to say
no, explain why. Listen to your
child’s side. Remember listening doesn’t
mean give in.
*Allow your child ways to “rebel”. Allowing them to assert their independence in
certain areas like how to wear their hair, clothes to wear, decorating their
room or what music to listen to may make it easier to assert your control in
the more important areas.
*Pick your battles carefully. Ask yourself if whether getting things done
your way is worth the battle that might ensue and remember that sometimes the
answer to this question will be yes.
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