Sharon’s House Rules for Teenagers

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house rules for teenagers www.sharonmartincounseling.com

Yesterday I read this article 7 Simple Rules for Living in our House by Kristen Daukas. I liked a lot of what Kristen laid out as house rules for teenagers, but the tone didn’t feel quite right for me. So, I decided to try my hand at 7 simple rules for the teenagers in my house. Here’s what I’ve got so far. I’m sure it will be a work in progress.

7. Say please and thank you. It may seem like a cliché, but it does make a difference. Please and thank you are really simple ways to show your gratitude.

6. Clean up after yourself. I’m not a maid.

5. Accept responsibility for your own choices. If you screwed up, own it, accept the consequences, learn from it. If you made good choices, celebrate your successes.

4. Tell me where you’re going, who you’re with, and answer your phone when I call/text. For me this is a safety issue.

3. Talk to me and spend time with me once in a while. Believe it or not, I like you! I think you’re cool and fun and I want to know what’s happening at school and with your friends.

2. Do your best in school. I don’t expect perfection, but I expect effort. If you’re struggling with something let me know.

1. Treat yourself and others with love, compassion, and honesty. This is what matters most.

How about the rest of you parents of teens? What would you add? Do you have your own list of house rules for teenagers that you’d like to share?

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©Sharon Martin, LCSW. All rights reserved.
Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.

Sharon Martin, a licensed counselor and psychotherapist in Northern California, specializes in helping adult children of alcoholics and others who struggle with anxiety, perfectionism, and self-criticism. She has a private psychotherapy practice in CA where she is available for online counseling. Sharon is also the author of The CBT Workbook for Perfectionism and write the blog Conquering Codependency for Psychology Today.

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