MFP 322: Dealing with Mouthy Teens

A problem with disrespect from a child always goes back to a dysfunction in the parent-child relationship.

 

Summary

When our sweet children enter the teen years and adolescence is upon them, something happens that tends to cause parents stress and dismay - back talk and disrespect.  Some of this is immaturity on the part of the child and some is simply lack of training in relationships.  It is our job as parents to teach our children how to express their feelings, disagree, and even debate while maintaining an attitude of respect towards us and therefore, other people in their lives.  The family is the training ground for life!  In this podcast we will give you some perspective on the struggles teens have, tell you what NOT to do and explain the Three C’s of responding to a mouthy teen.  Listen in!  

Key Takeaways

• A disrespectful child is, simply put, someone no one wants to be around. But the good news is that parents can change this!  We can help our child become someone we not just love, but like.  

• Yelling, punishing, taking things personally, and debating with your teen does not work.  Avoid these reactions. 

• Tweens and teens need us to guide them on acceptable ways of speaking to others.  This will help them be successful in many areas of life. 

• CONTROL YOURSELF - If you are triggered by your teen and fly off the handle, ask yourself why and get your emotional life in order. 

• CONSEQUENCES - It is our responsibility to help them see what happens when they don’t control their tongue.  The world’s consequences will be much harder than ours! 

• COACH - We need to point our teens towards adulthood so they can see we are not treating them as a child, we are teaching them how to be an adult. 

Couple Discussion Questions

• Are we happy with the way that our children speak to us?  Can we identify areas of difficulty with them? 

• What would be a quick, acceptable consequence for our child’s disrespect?  Which one of us would be best to talk to them about this? 

• How can we coach our child to do better? 

 

Links:

• Link to Cana90 https://messyfamilyproject.org/programs/cana90/

• Link to Beloved Event https://arrayofhope.regfox.com/beloved