Jack Agati has over 25 years of experience as a presenter, speaker, and trainer in the area of human relations and management. Jack has taught courses at the college level, and he created the popular audio series, “Why Do Kids Do the Things They Do?” Jack has also authored several articles and an upcoming book, “Dealing with Beastly People”. In this week’s episode, Jack shares strategic tips and tricks on how to manage your unruly teen, whose life mission seems to just drive you up the wall and push your boundaries. Here’s how you can take a step back and gain some healthy perspectives while also keeping them accountable!
Key Takeaways:
- Choose war or choose peace? When is the right time to pick your battles with your teen?
- Create a list of all the things your teen is doing that’s making you go crazy.
- Once you have typed the entire list, categorize it and put things into perspective. How many of these things are ‘life and death’ situations where their values are going astray?
- Children know when you’re at your busiest and they want to give you something to react to.
- Decide what your goal is. Do you want to punish them or teach them how to make better decisions?
- There are two truths when it comes to dealing with young men and women. Jack shares what they are.
- We have the freedom to choose, but you don’t have the freedom of consequence. Teenagers need to understand this distinction.
- Have a misbehaving teen? Here’s three questions you can ask yourself.
- What do you do when your teenager says they’ll do something, and then changes their mind shortly after?
- ack lists a couple of common excuses our teens like to throw at us like: ‘I was joking’ or ‘It’s not fair!’ and the best ways for you to respond.
- The goal is to raise your teen as someone who is independent, responsible, has a good work ethic, and is not swayed by their peer group.
- Don’t raise a generation of ‘house guests’! It will be a nightmare for you, and for them.
- Being a teenager is hard. No one wants to relive their teenage years.
- When does it make sense to give praise to your teenager?
- Don’t wait for the big things to give them recognition. It’s the small details that make the most impact.
Resources:
- Sponsored by Vermont Student Assistance Corporation “Gear Up”
- Connect with Jack Agati: Jackagati.com
Quotes:
“Resist the temptation to blow things into major battles. They’re not worth it.”
“If you look at the Greek and Latin language, the word discipline means to teach/to learn.”
“One thing kids realize about us is that we as parents are really consistent with our inconsistencies.”
