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Survival Principles

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!

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Author: Mark Gregston

Mark Gregston began working with teens more than 40 years ago as a youth minister and Young Life director. He has authored nearly two dozen books, has written hundreds of articles, and is host of the nationally-acclaimed Parenting Today’s Teens podcast and radio broadcast.