Do you sometimes find yourself hesitating to tell your teen the truth?

Hi, I’m Mark Gregston … with Parenting Today’s Teens.

A father once asked a counselor what to tell his two teenagers after their mother abandoned their family. The counselor immediately replied, “Tell them the truth; don’t lie. Protect their mother’s reputation as much as possible. But make sure to tell them what happened, and do it immediately. Your children will appreciate and remember your honesty.”

That counselor gave some good advice. Teens always want to know the truth, regardless of how much it hurts. And the quickest way to lose their respect is by hiding the raw truth.

So make a habit of telling “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” In the long run, your teen will thank you for it.