Create Safe Boundaries

Some boundaries aren’t stop signs; they’re yield signs. Just as a yield sign helps you safely get onto the highway, the rules you set up for your teen give them a safe space to take on responsibilities a bit at a time. They need boundaries for stability, but they also need to push against them in order to grow. So set limits, reminding your teen that you do so out of love. Be clear and specific, also letting them know exceptions to the rule and why. And, let them know (in advance!) the consequences of going beyond those boundaries.