I try not to make promises I can’t keep. But here’s one promise I feel confident enough to make to you today, your teen will mess up!

Sooner or later, something’s bound to happen. She’ll get caught driving too fast, and comes home with a speeding ticket. Or he’ll put off studying, and flunk the big history test.

When our teens blow it, we often think that we need to be the consequence. We’ll pull away, retract our love, and give them the cold shoulder. But don’t you think that failing grade or speeding ticket is punishment enough?

The next time your teen messes up, keep loving them while you let the natural consequences do their work. Your love shouldn’t change once your kid messes up. And, believe me, he will mess up!

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