Ever grab the lid on a steaming pot or pull a hot tray out of the microwave too soon? Ouch!
You don’t have to attend a weekend seminar on kitchen safety, or watch a ten-part DVD on high-tech ovens. You already know that hot things cause pain.
You get my point? It all comes down to a basic survival principle. When we experience pain, we avoid it in the future. In the same fashion, our teens learn from consequences, not from lectures, tirades, or angry outbursts.
So the next time your son or daughter steps out of line, take a moment to calm down, and resist the urge to give a speech. Instead, let the consequences do their wonderful work. When they feel the pain, they won’t touch it again!
If you listen on a mobile phone or tablet, please download our Parenting Today’s Teens app available for Apple or Android. If you listen on a desktop or laptop computer, press the “play” button above to enjoy daily parenting advice.