Parenting Rewards & Responsibilities © 2007

You have heard that teenagers tend to isolate themselves from their parents, preferring the company of their friends. You expect some of this behavior from your son, but you feel that it has gone too far and has become a problem. You still want to be a resource for your child and keep the lines of communication open.

Try This

1			Your teenager has gradually stopped talking to you. He is hiding out in his room, avoiding the family at meal-times and not answering your questions. You feel this has gone beyond what is typical for teenagers. In the space below, explain how you will approach this problem. Consider these issues: What are your resources for improving this situation? What are you willing to do? What boundaries are you willing to allow your teenager to have? What guidelines could you both follow that might help improve your communication with each other?