Would you ever tell me that you demand perfection from your teen? Probably not. But would your teen give the same answer?

Over decades of working with kids, I’ve heard hundreds of sons and daughters say that their parents needed them to be perfect. Now, I imagine that very few parents would actually confirm that statement. But there’s clearly a pattern here. Even though you don’t verbally demand perfection, maybe your actions say otherwise.

Let me encourage you today to reflect on your relationship with your teen. Could you silently be telling him that he needs to perform to earn your love?

Try out one of my favorite axioms: “There’s nothing you can do to make me love you more. There’s nothing you can do to make me love you less.”

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