Eye Rolling:
Harmless Teen Behavior
or Power Play?
by James Lehman, MSW

When we posted our “Top Annoying Teen Behaviors” poll at the beginning of May, we garnered more than 600 responses from parents, a record for EP. The issues you wanted to talk about most? Eye–rolling, (See this week’s article) Interrupting; Mocking/Imitating Parents; Not Greeting People, Constantly Talking on Cell Phone/Texting; Chronic lateness, and the top annoying teen behavior: Back Talk. Nearly half of all respondents reported that this was the teen habit that pushed their buttons the most! We’ll be counting down these annoying behaviors in upcoming issues of Empowering Parents, starting with this week’s spotlight on the classic “Eye-rolling” technique.

Teens have ways of getting to parents non-verbally, too. Eye-rolling is one way your kids can push your buttons without saying a word. Here, James Lehman, MSW helps you deal with teens who seem to roll their eyes whenever their parents speak, number 7 on the EP list of “Top Annoying Teen Behaviors.”

Click Here to Read Full Article

Does Your Child Say This?
“You just want to control me.”
by James Lehman, MSW

When a child says to you, “You’re just trying to control me,” usually he or she is inviting you to a fight. The perception for parents here is that your child is challenging your authority. If you respond to that, you’re giving them more power. Try not to get into a power struggle or screaming match, and don’t deny the obvious. Sometimes parents say, “No I’m not trying to control you,” when in fact, they really are. Generally, the best thing for you to do is to avoid that fight.

Click Here to Read Full Article