My situation is that my teen daughter does hear me, but she does certain things anyway to rebel against me. It seems the more I try to gain control over a situation, the more she rebels. If I try to educate, she gets upset and acts "all knowing" and feels as if I think she is stupid. She is really good with everything I discuss with her except for one subject: her ex boyfriend who is unhealthily obsessed with her.
Laura Greene 12/12/07
Our problem is not that our two pre-teens don’t listen, but that they hear different answers when they ask for stuff from me and my husband separately. I know we present a united front, but whenever I come down with The Law, they say, ‘well, we asked Dad and HE said…’ I just don’t know how to solve that one.
Susan Raz 12/11/07
I remember my father telling me to ‘pick my battles’ when my first child was born, and it’s been the motto we live by. My three teens are all different, but they all have really similar ‘listening’ deficits. They don’t hear when asked to do chores, do homework, call grandparents, etc. So over the years we have had to figure out ways to talk or act so they will listen to something, if not everything. You can’t win ‘em all, but you CAN win some.
Kim Moya, Beaufort, SC 01/12/09
Laura Greene 12/12/07
Susan Raz 12/11/07