As any parent who has gone through the teenage years with their child will tell you, dealing with teens is not easy. While true, that is not exactly helpful when you are right in the thick of it and dealing with disrespectful teenage behavior. The techniques you used on them when they were younger no longer seem to work and before you know it their behavior can feel out of control and you are left scrambling trying to get some order back in the household.
The good news is that there are productive, effective, and positive ways to deal with a disrespectful teen that will create a happier home life for all. Let us take a closer look:
Try to Be a Positive Role Model
One of the first things you will want to be aware of is your own actions. It is up to you to model positive and good behavior, so that your teen understands what sort of actions are acceptable. For example, if you are yelling at your teenager about them constantly raising their voice at you, it is important to pause and look at the irony of the situation.
Getting on their case for behavior that you are guilty of yourself just does not make sense. You should model good behavior, rather than simply preaching about it.
Understand They are Dealing with a Lot of Emotions
As a teenager, there is no doubt that they are dealing with all kinds of emotions that can be confusing, scary, overwhelming, and exciting. With so much going on in their head, it can feel as though they are losing control sometimes and that they do not know if they are coming or going. This is where it is important to be supportive, show you are there for them and be willing to listen to them and allow them to vent. By letting them get their emotions off their chest, it can help them to feel more relaxed.
Do Not Stress the Small Stuff
While you do not want to let the big stuff go by without acknowledging it, it is not necessary to get worked up about everything. Small remarks, eye-rolling here and there, and mild jokes are not the end of the world. In fact, this is part of a teenager learning to think for themselves, be assertive and independent, which you want them to be. It is just a matter of them learning how to do so in a respectful manner.
Sometimes it can be helpful to take a moment and breathe, take a step back, and ask yourself if you are overreacting to a situation.
Point Out the Good Behavior
Rather than only pointing out the negative behaviour, make it a point to acknowledge their good behavior. You are helping them to see what is considered appropriate behavior and you are rewarding it.
It Is a Challenging Process
Raising a teen is no easy task. It is challenging and it can be frustrating, to say the least. It is important to try to keep a cool head, model the kind of behavior you want them to show, and remind yourself that the teenage years will not last forever!
