Question:
I have a 19 year old daughter who is a habitual liar. So has stole articles (jewelry, clothes, money) etc from her sister and myself as well as lying about where she has been and other matters (drinking, etc). Being that she lives at home , what do you suggest as a appropriate means of discipline?Answer:
ParentingTeensOnline expert Donna Secor Pennington, LMSW, has been a school social worker at the high school level for twenty years and an advocate for programs and services for teens and parents. She answers:
By age nineteen, lying and stealing are a significant concern and discipline alone is unlikely to be effective. It will be important to try to identify the underlying reasons for these behaviors. Substance abuse should be considered since you mention drinking in your question, and lying and stealing in teens can be related to covering up substance use or obtaining funds for alcohol or drugs. Lying and stealing can also be associated with poor impulse control due to a neurologically-based disorder such as Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). There are a number of other possibilities. You should consult a mental health professional for assistance in addressing this situation. Your family doctor may be able to recommend one.