In my home, I am the disciplinarian. I have found since each of my kids is their own person certain punishments pertain in different manners. I mostly use grounding, or restrictions, or the dreaded discussion factor. Which it seems they would rather be grounded rather than be “talked to”.

I often hear them at one point or another say, that is not fair. I try to refrain from the saying that “life is not fair”. Instead I explain why I felt a certain punishment has been applied.

Of course I have also heard them say well you did ground him or her from that or whatever their grievance is. The answer to that is they do not like the same things. For example, my son likes to watch wrestling, my daughter doesn’t even watch it so it would not make sense to ground them both from wrestling.

Another example is my niece doesn’t like to go outside and my daughter does, so why would I ground them both from that.

I often tell them I get tired of being a referee. I get tired of the fighting and arguing. I have been told to not interfere with them, and the tattling. I mean they are for the most part teenagers, the ironic thing is they did not tattle when they were little.

Teenagers definitely are a challenge. They are at the stage when they do not think they need discipline, boy are they wrong, they seem to need it more now in some ways.

I do allow them to speak their minds and feelings I am a strong believer in them being allowed to be individuals with their own thoughts and minds as long as they do not infringe or disrespect anyone else.