Control Your Reaction

Lady Gaga was probably singing about the best way to listen to a teen when she crooned, “No, he can’t read my poker face.” Non-reaction is the name of the game because the fastest way to get a teen to stop confiding is to make them feel as if they’re being judged and found lacking. Parents do this when they trigger the parenting alarm in the middle of the conversation by wildly sharing concerns or making accusations. Instead, control your reaction with a well-practiced poker face and aim to listen first so they don’t move into a defensive position.

Click here for another 100-word parenting tip.