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joanne_jacobs
Guest
my son is turning into a teenager and is starting to rebel
does anyone have advice for me?
does anyone have advice for me?
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sententia
Guest
What is it that he is doing, and how do you react to it? The description is a bit vauge…
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La_Chiara
Guest
Joanne–I checked your profile and found this:
Religion:
anarchist/jewish/wiccan/chirstian
So my advice is for you to “get Catholic” for yourself and for your son. Really, I highly recommend it. You will be glad you did!
Religion:
anarchist/jewish/wiccan/chirstian
So my advice is for you to “get Catholic” for yourself and for your son. Really, I highly recommend it. You will be glad you did!
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turboEDvo
Guest
Age, grade, major changes in his life, and any other background info would be helpful. If he is in high school, try treating him like an adult. If he feels like you aren’t smothering him and understands that when you tell him not to do something (this does entail that you don’t tell him not to do everything) you are doing it for his safety, then he may feel less of a need to rebel. It is something that all teenagers go through in one way or another (some less severely than others) and it is a matter of helping them mature rather than forcing them into a mold of some sort.
Eamon
Eamon
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CARose
Guest
Children of all ages want to know that their world is safe and that their parents are looking out for them as they move in ever widening circles. One of the most important aspects is that you offer them a degree of stability and consistancy. If you were sincere in your profile, you may want to put some energy into determining how you ultimately define right and wrong. One’s faith system brings this into a cohesive picture that either aids you in your life or could lead you astray.
I agree with La Chiara, you may want to consider looking more closely into Catholicism. If you ultimately can’t accept it as Truth, then in good conscience you shouldn’t join us. But I believe that if you pray for guidance and you give it a sincerely open look, you may be surprised. Then, the more you learn, the more you will discern a cohesive picture of the world and beyond that adds great value to your life.
Ultimately, this should be to the benefit of your son.
God Bless you as you seek to be the best parent you can be.
CARose
I agree with La Chiara, you may want to consider looking more closely into Catholicism. If you ultimately can’t accept it as Truth, then in good conscience you shouldn’t join us. But I believe that if you pray for guidance and you give it a sincerely open look, you may be surprised. Then, the more you learn, the more you will discern a cohesive picture of the world and beyond that adds great value to your life.
Ultimately, this should be to the benefit of your son.
God Bless you as you seek to be the best parent you can be.
CARose
K
kaymart
Guest
Joanne, you said in your profile you were born in 1979, How old is your “teenager” for you yourself are only 26??? Were you just 12 or 13 when you gave birth???
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JimG
Guest
Umm, let’s see, as far as I know there is no cure for someone who turns into a teenager. Medically, the onset occurs about age 13 and is continuous until age 19, followed by spontaneous remission, although in some males it can continue well into the 30’s.
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Tonks40
Guest
Run! Run far far away…! 
Seriously, tho, I’ve been experiencing the same thing from my eldest son (16 years old). I’ve only got myself and my ex-husband to blame (broken-home syndrome). But I feel that it’s not too late to instill some good old-fashioned values in him.
Since he came back to live with us, I’ve taken him back to Mass, I talk to him about his concerns, I instill responsibilities and tasks that he must do around the house in order to keep the house that he lives in in order. I remind him that he is only 16 - that he cannot make the type of adult decisions he would like to make. And while in my house, he follows MY rules.
I remind him of the alternatives if he doesn’t do as he is told (going back to live with an not-so-understanding step-mother and father). I give him the tough-love that he needs, yet I don’t try to stifle his spirit. His attitude since coming back has gotten better, but we still need a lot of work. And, praise be to God, he’s coming back to his Catholic faith! (He asked me a couple of weeks ago about the Sacred Heart of Jesus, made a great Confession, and *he makes sure * he attends Mass).
Prayer to the Virgin Mary and to our Lord has made this all possible, and kept my sanity in check.
This is a Catholic’s point-of-view. I hope this helps.
Seriously, tho, I’ve been experiencing the same thing from my eldest son (16 years old). I’ve only got myself and my ex-husband to blame (broken-home syndrome). But I feel that it’s not too late to instill some good old-fashioned values in him.
Since he came back to live with us, I’ve taken him back to Mass, I talk to him about his concerns, I instill responsibilities and tasks that he must do around the house in order to keep the house that he lives in in order. I remind him that he is only 16 - that he cannot make the type of adult decisions he would like to make. And while in my house, he follows MY rules.
I remind him of the alternatives if he doesn’t do as he is told (going back to live with an not-so-understanding step-mother and father). I give him the tough-love that he needs, yet I don’t try to stifle his spirit. His attitude since coming back has gotten better, but we still need a lot of work. And, praise be to God, he’s coming back to his Catholic faith! (He asked me a couple of weeks ago about the Sacred Heart of Jesus, made a great Confession, and *he makes sure * he attends Mass).
Prayer to the Virgin Mary and to our Lord has made this all possible, and kept my sanity in check.
This is a Catholic’s point-of-view. I hope this helps.
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scylla
Guest
Teenage kids always will test you and push and pull from you. It is important to spend time any time you can possibly with them. Find time to be with them, if you are not accustomed to dinner together it might be a good time to start having family dinner nights.
If you don’t attend Church, Christianity is not a control thing, contrary to some peoples belief it wasn’t created just out of the blue. It is a way of understanding life, Catholicism in my opinion best expresses this. It is a complete way of understanding how we should live and understand life. It brings peace.
There is a huge number of good books available here at Catholic Answers and plenty of people willing to see what they can do to help.
God Bless
Scylla
If you don’t attend Church, Christianity is not a control thing, contrary to some peoples belief it wasn’t created just out of the blue. It is a way of understanding life, Catholicism in my opinion best expresses this. It is a complete way of understanding how we should live and understand life. It brings peace.
There is a huge number of good books available here at Catholic Answers and plenty of people willing to see what they can do to help.
God Bless
Scylla
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mariainman
Guest
He’s suppose to rebel.It’s part of growing up.I had only one rule in my house: Mass on Sunday.Everything else was negotiable unless it was immoral, illegal or abusive.
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