Put Out the Fire

Liar, liar, pants on fire. Your teen may sometimes lie, and you can either douse the flames with anger, or you can smother the fire with calm. Listen, no one enjoys having their trust stomped on with dishonesty, but freaking out is not going to rebuild the relationship. No amount of yelling will solve this problem, but keeping your cool and discussing this challenging moment – openly and honestly – will accomplish a different essential goal: Make it less likely your teen will be dishonest with you in the future. So take a deep breath and talk.

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