4
Stop fighting with your teenager. Teenagers often feel they need to prove themselves. They have to prove themselves with their peers, their teachers and they automatically feel they have to prove themselves with you, too. Don't let it upset you. Refuse to fight with them. Using empathy in your voice, develop one-liners, such as: "I bet it feels that way.", "What do you suppose you'll do?", and "I don't know. What do you think?". They may get even angrier with you and demand to know why you won't argue with them. Let them know you love them too much to fight with them over petty stuff. If you can refuse to take the bait every time they throw out their hook, you'll save yourself and them from having to go through a lot of arguing about things that are irrelevant.