Exactly how Can I Work Through Adolescent Rebellion

The terms “teenage” and “rebellion” may well seem like they go together, but it hasn’t always been that way. In the past, getting older meant a child was becoming an adult. Look at their behavior that you call “rebellion” and ask yourself some questions. Is this conduct really my child simply starting to be an adult? Because sometimes what we tag as rebellion may simply be the child making a choice for themselves. rnOne thing that might help (MIGHT help, mind you! )#) is to think about the choices that other adults make. If your child makes a choice that you don’t agree with, but it’s a choice that other adults make all the time, maybe it isn’t rebellion at all! Perhaps it is simply your child turning into an adult! For instance, their choice in clothes, or how they style their hair. Their choices may not necessarily be your choices. But are those choices OK? If another adult made that choice, would you be really be upset or confused? Because if not, possibly it’s an OK choice for your child to make. rnSome parents allow their children a number of choices in their homeschool. Instead of telling them when every thing must be done, they just tell them WHAT items must be done. “Finish these ten things before 5: 00″ for instance - leaving them to decide when they want to do each item. Some children would prefer to get up at 5: 00 and be done by noon! Is that wrong? Or just a decision they make? What if it’s on the other side? What if they get up at noon, and don’t complete their schoolwork until 5: 00? IS that incorrect, or just a choice? rnHonestly, in my home, I really did make them finish their work by 4: 00. I know that it MAY have been a fine choice for them to make, but it didn’t function well with our family. I needed my husband to “play the heavy” in a few areas, so they had to be done before he got home, in order for him to perform his magic and make sure it was all done each day. We had physical activities in the afternoons, and I really don’t do well after dinner. Having them turn in projects during my own times of exhaustion would have been horrific! So make sure that you decide what functions for you family, more than anything!