I think 13, 14 is a really difficult age for teenage girls though. They're still children but they're into puberty, their hormones are raging, they are impatient to be much more emanicipated as far as having total freedom, and most of us parents aren't up to that yet. If there is going to be serious rebellion, I think it probably shows up at that age more often than any other. And it does require a firm hand and a great deal of resolve on the part of parents to manage it.
So they are angry, go through wide mood swings, think their parents are totally outdated, unreasonable idiots, and say a lot of stuff that rational people don't say. But deep down, they are also afraid of their own impulses and maybe not even consciously, they want limits and want to know somebody is in charge.
And that sometimes is no fun at all for the parents.
Boys I think get really obnoxious a bit later--15, 16, 17 in there somewhere.
Taking away the bedroom door for serious offenses is a really good idea though. That would certainly provide an incentive for the kid to clean up his/her act.
So they are angry, go through wide mood swings, think their parents are totally outdated, unreasonable idiots, and say a lot of stuff that rational people don't say. But deep down, they are also afraid of their own impulses and maybe not even consciously, they want limits and want to know somebody is in charge.
And that sometimes is no fun at all for the parents.
Boys I think get really obnoxious a bit later--15, 16, 17 in there somewhere.
Taking away the bedroom door for serious offenses is a really good idea though. That would certainly provide an incentive for the kid to clean up his/her act.
