Teenagers at their best are a delight, and at their worst can be a nightmare. Wanting to be old before their time, and always thinking they know best. It just isn’t cool to listen to what mum or dad have to say.

Fortunately for most teenagers it’s just a phase, and there is light at the end of the tunnel. 

If your teenager is craving some responsibility give them some, this will help build the trust between you, and help them feel more adult.

Try and compromise. We all have to do it in all of our relationships. It’s also good for teenagers to learn about compromise for later life.

Discuss rules with your teenager, this links to compromise, rather than you “laying down the law” if you can discuss rules together and come up with something you’re both happy with you are both likely to stick to them.

And finally, stick by your guns. If your teenager breaks the rules, make sure there is a punishment, (this can be discussed with your teenager before hand, and could be anything from a reduction in pocket money, to them having to do more house hold chores) This will help a teenager learn that there are consequences to their actions, and that the rules are important, and need to be respected.  

If your teenager is threatening to leave home, or has pushed you so far, that you are thinking there is no other option but to ask them to leave then you need to get some help.

You can refer yourself and your family to Turnaround. They can offer parenting support, through 1-2-1 and group meetings. They run a variety of activities, for you and your children to attend, as well a group for just parents to attend. Some of the parent support workers are Triple P trained, which is a parenting programme, for all the family to learn how to communicate together, and to deal with difficult behaviour.  

There is also family mediation available through the borough council. Again this is a chance to get the family communicating again. The mediator will meet with the parent(s) and child/children to discuss the issues and then bring the family together to discuss the issues in a controlled environment.