Parenting Course - How to Clearly Define Rules and Expectations When Negotiating With Teenagers by ParentTools

http://Parenttools.org has created a series of 6 videos designed to help frustrated parents with difficult teens. The information in the videos is applicable not only for parents dealing with difficult teens, but is an excellent resource for parents of children of all ages. In fact the sooner a parent starts using the techniques taught in these videos, the sooner they will see a positive impact with their children's behavior. This is the 1st of 5 sample clips from the 5th video in the series titled "Making Changes with Your Teen". Do you have a teen that struggles with boundaries or at time uncooperative, unmotivated or even defiant? Most parents facing these types of problems report that they are giving a lot to their teen, such as food, clothing, shelter, transportation, privileges, opportunities, nurturing, emotional support, yet are getting very little from their teens in return. If this is true with you, as it is with thousands of parents, you're giving a lot to your teen and you're getting very little respect, cooperation, appreciation, help around the home, or follow through on your basic rules and requests. If this is the case, it's not because you are a bad parent. How can a parent providing all these things be considered a bad parent? It is more likely you are just caught in a bad negotiation. Think about it, any time you're given a lot and receiving very little in return, that would be considered a bad negotiation. Our lives are full of negotiations. We are actively or passively negotiating almost everything. We have negotiated what we get paid, what we drive, what house we live in, who our friends are, and even whom we marry. Every important relationship we have has been negotiated. Most of these relationships have not been negotiated verbally, but they have been negotiated by our actions and what we allow. How we act and treat others, and how they interact and treat us has all been negotiated. This is especially true with your children and it starts very early. When as a small child, they cried or made a fuss until we gave them what they wanted, it was one of the first negotiations they won with us. When we told them "NO" but they kept pestering us until we caved in, another negotiation in their favor was completed. When we told them that they needed to get their room cleaned everyday before going to school but they went anyway, yet another negotiation was completed. When our children talk to us rudely or defiantly and we did very little or allowed that, that completed another important negotiation. http://Parenttools.org is part of a non-profit organization that help parents learn how to be better parents.