Raising teenagers is no walk in the park at times. There can be power struggles, disrespect and smelly socks. So is it any wonder we often find ourselves at the end of our tether?
However, one video has shown us an interesting perspective on dealing with teenagers. Titled “Sometimes the Best Parenting Move Is the Last One We Want To Make” and posted on the Facebook page Sun Gazing, this mum’s unorthodox approach has certainly made us think.
Like many of us, the mum was going through a rough patch with her teenage son, and felt like she was getting nowhere. But instead of shouting and forcing him to submit to her, she tried a different route.
“I wanted my child to submit and he wanted to back off,” she says in the video. “But deep inside we all know: When we hold out to win against our children, someone always loses.”
Choosing to remember what it felt like to be a teenager – the hormones, stress of school and identity issues – the mum decided to “do the last thing she wanted to do: forgive him” and decided to tidy her son’s messy room and do his laundry while he was in school.
And when he came home from school, her son picked up the fight where they left off, before running upstairs to his bedroom. And of course when he saw it was spick and span, he was shocked. Was his mum not still angry at him?
“He stared at me in wonder and asked: ‘Why would you do this mum?’ I answered: ‘Because I know how you feel. I know how stressed you are with life and school. I did it because I want you to know this is how I feel and I love you enough to see past our differences’.”
It might seem like she gave in, but just like that, she diffused the argument, while making her son think about how lucky he was to have a mum who loves him. She showed that putting yourself in your teen’s shoes without needing to ‘win’ the battle, you can both emerge victorious.
What do you think of this mum’s approach? And do you have any teen tips to share? We’re sure our mums would love to hear them!
