Obnoxious Teen Revolts and a Reasonable Curfew for 09/01/2017
Dear Family Coach
Dear Family Coach: My wife and I have four kids ranging in age from 10 to 16 years old. Everyone is so busy. I wanted to have one night of the week when we are all together for game night. Everyone is excited about it except for my oldest. At 16, he’d rather be with his friends on Friday night. Every time we try to get together, he is incredibly obnoxious and rude, and after a while we dismiss him because he is ruining it for everyone. Should we let him out of the family night or continue to require it regardless of his behavior? – Gamers
Dear Gamers: Jee, I wonder why your son acts up on game night. Could it be because he’s learned that being obnoxious helps him avoid annoying family time? Of course he’d rather be with his friends. For teens, their friends are their world. Sorry, folks, you aren’t it anymore. Accept you son’s desire to want to fly the coup. Allow it. But don’t let him flee without a tether to bring him back sometimes.
Updated: Fri Sep 01, 2017
Obnoxious Teen Revolts and a Reasonable Curfew for 09/01/2017