You’ve heard me say that no parent should demand perfection from their teen. Yet some parents still expect it from themselves.

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

Kids are bound to act out, be embarrassing, or behave in a way their parents don’t want them to. And many times, parents feel personally ashamed and discouraged by their child’s actions. They see their teen’s shortcomings as evidence of their own failures.

Mom, dad, remember this: only God is perfect! Not your teen. Not you. And certainly not me. So quit trying to attain absolute perfection!

Is there a chance that we’ll mess up? Guaranteed. But when you admit to your teen that you’re not perfect, it might make them feel a little more comfortable in their own imperfect skin.

Let them know they’re surrounded by a family that truly understands, and shares, their flawed condition.