What happened? You used to have long, fun conversations with your daughter. She loved spending time with you, but something changed. She hit the teenage years, and now she doesn’t talk to you anymore. She doesn’t even like you.
I’ve had many conversations over the years with parents who have struggled with watching their teen daughters transform from a once sweet, beautiful girl into someone they didn’t like recognize anymore because of a mean and disrespectful attitude.
READ MORE: TEENS AND TELLING THE TRUTH
Do you have a teen daughter who is out of control? Is she verbally abusive and disrespectful? Here’s how to shift that dynamic:
1) Set the house rules. Let your teen daughter know that verbal abuse is not permitted in your home. Let her know that there will be consequences if she continues to be abusive and aggressive toward others. Consider taking privileges away for disrespectful behavior. She may think twice if she has to ride the school bus to school instead of driving her car.
2) Teach her how to solve conflicts. Be her role model and stay calm. When your teen is being verbally abusive, walk away until tempers have calmed down. Circle back to the issue later when your teen cooled off and in a better frame of mind for a conversation.
3) Seek God’s guidance and professional help if the verbal abuse and aggression continues in your home. Safety is important. If a family member is seriously injured as the result of an argument, it’s time to call the police. It does not mean you don’t love your teen. It’s taking the stand that everyone in the family has the right to feel both physically and emotionally safe.
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. (Ephesians 4:31, NIV)
