Discover how to get your teen to respect you, and your life can become much more peaceful. Imagine a teen who now speaks to you as though you are worth more than the empty pizza box he used to throw under his bed but no longer does because he regards you with high esteem. Picture a teenager who now listens to you attentively and without interrupting, even turning off her cell phone. This character trait can transform family life in amazing ways, but how to get your teen to respect you? Let's answer that.
Launch a Modeling Career
How to get your teen to respect you is the question, so why should the answer begin with advice to launch a modeling career?
You yourself must become a model of respect if you expect an adolescent to exercise the trait toward you. Adolescents are quick to spot hypocrisy. If you want to be treated as though you have value, you must first treat others as though they have value. Don't ask how to get your teen to respect you until you learn how to show that you value him or her.
Learn how to get your teen to respect you by thinking about how you treat others in the family. Do you engage in husband or wife bashing? Do you say things either to or about your spouse that reflects poorly on the spouse? Does negative talk about your spouse show that you value your spouse?
When other family members speak to you, do you show their value by focusing on them? When your son or daughter comes with a question, do you turn off the TV to listen, showing that he or she is more important than the television? If you and a friend are enjoying small talk on the phone and your adolescent asks you a question, do you send the kid packing or ask your friend to call later? If you are serious about learning how to get your teen to respect you, take time to evaluate yourself.
Challenge yourself to launch a career in modeling this awesome character trait. You are a family leader. You are to lead your teen. Lead by example and your son or daughter is more likely to follow.
Definition
Learning how to get your teen to respect you once you model the quality will require that you define this character trait clearly. Adolescents don't want vagueness. Teens themselves taught me that when I was a high school teacher and a principal. They want you to define your terms plainly.
Define respect as a character trait that recognizes each person's value. Tell sons and daughters that they have value and you try to recognize that value in the way you treat them. You don't have to become technical just because you want to know how to get your teen to respect you. It could help, though. You could say that the word comes from Latin and means "looking back at one" as you do when you give someone more than a passing glance. Be clever. Employ your grasp of how to get your teen to respect you by suggesting that a good-looking boy or girl who is worth more than a passing glance has some value. You probably treat such people in ways that show their value.
A big secret of learning how to get your teen to respect you is to impress upon him or her that every character trait requires action. It is never enough to understand the trait or to think you exercise the trait. It isn't enough to want a specific character trait. You must exercise it.
Go for Practical
Once you know in theory how to get your teen to respect you, you must become practical. You will need to give your son or daughter specifics. You will need to supply realistic, down-to-earth ways that you want your teen to exercise this vital character trait.
Examples show how to get your teen to respect you in daily life. Any adolescent can easily take seven positive steps, each of which shows that he or she recognizes your worth:
· Limit showers to ten minutes, total bathroom use to thirty minutes. · Adjust voice volume and tone to pleasant settings. · Replace vulgar, foul words and phrases with good vocabulary and politeness. · Give focused attention when people speak to you. · Cooperate cheerfully in family activities. · Full responsibilities well and in timely manner without reminders. · Treat every family member the way you, in your inmost being, want to treated.
Conclusion
Learn how to get your teen to respect you and you will be light years beyond many parents and teachers - especially those that think insolence is a direct, inescapable result of raging hormones. You will be able to tell them, from personal experience, that once you learned how to get your teen to respect you, your home life became serene and tranquil compared to what it used to be.
© 2010, Elizabeth L Hamilton. Elizabeth invites you to learn more about this vital character trait at http://www.character-in-action.com. Elizabeth has posted many articles there about high moral values and character traits. If you want to learn more about the importance of teaching respect to family, you will want to read her article on that topic.