Sometimes our teen’s behaviors are inappropriate … but the motivation behind them is spot on.

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

A number of years ago, I met with a 16-year-old boy named Nick. He was a good kid … but he’d become disobedient, dishonest, and disrespectful toward his parents. Mom and Dad were at their wits’ end.

When I sat down with Nick, he opened up about life at home. His parents wouldn’t let him get a job. They told him what kind of haircut he needed. They only let him listen to Christian music. In short, all this kid wanted was some healthy freedom. Nick’s exact words to me were: “They’re smothering me and keeping me from where I want to be.”

Like I said, sometimes our teen’s behaviors are inappropriate … but the motivation behind them is spot on.