Guilt haunts so many parents!  Many of us accept it without question.  It clouds our view like an overcast sky.  It feels so normal that we may not even recognize it.   Guilt makes us vulnerable to verbal abuse.  When our kids say something outrageous, we feel no outrage.  We secretly believe that somehow it’s our […]

To recap our last discussion, if you don’t know in your heart that your teen has crossed a line — if you instead question whether you might deserve abuse — you will convey confusion, not conviction.  If you feel an uncomfortable sense of guilt, that discomfort will weaken your resolve.  It will prevent you from […]

My next several blog posts will explore why so many parents accept verbal abuse from their teens. If your teen addresses you in insulting ways, are you stung by cruel words?  Do you take them in stride and swallow your feelings?  Do you tell yourself that it’s normal “these days” for teens to vent anger […]