Parenting Teenagers (12-18) Support Group
This community is focused on the joys, challenges and concerns faced by parents of teenagers (12 to 18 year olds). The major areas of child development include: physical development, perception and sensory development, communication and language development, cognitive development, emotional development and social development.
He lies about the silliest of things. He won't wash his hair for days, and then I will ask, and he will say that he does. Same thing with brushing teeth, turning in homework, using soap in the shower...etc.
I don't understand it. We've talked about it, I've said it hurts my feelings, I've asked him why he does it, I tell him it is upsetting, and that we are disappointed. I've yelled, I've grounded. I've tried it all. Nothing works.
I'm concerned that as he grows older, the white lies will turn into him lying about bigger things!
Advice?
I don't understand it. We've talked about it, I've said it hurts my feelings, I've asked him why he does it, I tell him it is upsetting, and that we are disappointed. I've yelled, I've grounded. I've tried it all. Nothing works.
I'm concerned that as he grows older, the white lies will turn into him lying about bigger things!
Advice?
I'm sure once he is interested in a girl he will be in the shower so much you ever get to use the hot water.
Have you let him pick out a body wash or Axe deodorant.
I would also say if your son is lying about washing his hair or brushing his teeth but nothing else you shouldn't be worried.
Right now the only choices he can make are few and far between.
Like a toddler refusing a bath teens go through it again
It is a daily struggle to get our 13-year-old son to take a shower and brush his teeth. During the school year, it was a struggle to get him to do his homework, even though he could be an all-A student.
Years ago, I was looking through a photo album of a peer. He saw a photo of him at age 12 or 13. He said, "I was at that age that you could not get me into the shower. Shortly thereafter, you couldn't get me out of the shower." I'm looking forward to the latter with our son.
Instead of "When you don't listen to me it hurts my feelings", try "You didn't listen, so now [fill in the blank with a consequence]"
Think cause and effect. And make it relate in some way. And keep it unemotional and impersonal. it's about him and his choices. It shouldn't be about you. Why should his dirty teeth upset you? They are his teeth. The goal is to guide him to a place where he is caring for his own teeth.
For example, when my son doesn't wash or comb his hair, and just generally doesn't take care of it, we take him to get his hair cut short. He hates his hair short, but that's the deal: he either takes care of it so he can grow it however he wants to, or we go and have the barber buss his hair off. His choice.