Over the years, we’ve watched countless childhood TV stars transition from innocent kids to out-of-control messes. And every time, we stop and wonder, “Man, what went wrong?”

Whether it’s a young celebrity who’s gone rogue, or a teen under your own roof who’s spinning out of control, my reaction is always the same: all behavior is goal-oriented. Whether it’s drinking, drug abuse, or immodest behavior, it always points to something bigger.

Our job as parents is to ask what that “something bigger” is. Is my teen trying to send me a message? Is she trying to declare independence? Is he trying to cover up the pain of an incident?

The answer could be any number of issues. But when your teen starts acting out keep this in mind: all behavior is goal-oriented.

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