This document provides guidance for teenagers on navigating relationships with parents, including gaining independence while also taking on responsibility. It discusses various roles parents play and stresses the importance of effective communication, such as choosing assertive communication styles over passive or aggressive ones, and resolving conflicts respectfully. The document advises finding a balance between freedom and responsibility.

1. RELATIONSHIPS WITH
PARENTS

2. QUIZ
1. What does RBA stand for?
2. Give an example of a deposit.
3. Give an example of a withdrawal.
4. What are the three C’s to relationships.
5. Name 3 of the 6 ways to build strong families. (If you name
all 6 you’ll get extra credit).
Extra Credit: Give a tradition you do in your family that you like.
If you don’t have one, write down a tradition that you will have
in a future family.

3. JOURNAL
 Describe your relationship with your parents. Do you get along
with your mom? Your dad? Do you confide in them when
needed? Do feel like you have a strong bond with your
mom/dad?

4. COOPERATION AND COMPROMISE
How can you practice these skills with your
parents?

5. PARENT RELATIONSHIP BANK ACCOUNT
 What are some deposits we can make in the relationship bank
account?
 What are some withdrawals from the relationship bank
account?

6. MY DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
 What does independence mean?
 How do you gain or lose independence?
 The basic reasons for struggles related to independence with
teens and parents are:
Freedom
Control
Power

7. MY DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
 What is the relationship of independence between individuals
and families?
How is independence tied to
responsibility?
 Independence does not mean that we don’t need others.

8. MY DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
Independence = Freedom, Control, Power
 If independence is freedom, what are you free from? Free to
do?
 If independence is control, what do you have control of?
 If independence is power, what kind of power? What or whom
do you have power over?

9. FREEDOM AND RESPONSIBILIT Y
 Most teens view freedom as being free from the restrictions of
parents.
 The images that this brings is being free from any restrictions
and rules.
 This type of belief is unrealistic.

10. FREEDOM AND RESPONSIBILIT Y
 “Freedom to…” is a much better concept:
Freedom to act
Freedom to make your own choices
Freedom to be yourself
 In this case, freedom and responsibility go hand -in-hand.
 The playwright, George Bernard Shaw once said, “Liberty
means responsibility. That is why most men dread it!”

11. FREEDOM AND RESPONSIBILIT Y
 Define Freedom:
The power to gain responsibility over
one’s own life.
 Increased freedom brings increased responsibility.
 Increased responsibility brings increased freedom.

12. MULTIPLE ROLES OF PARENTS
 What’s hard about being a parent?
 What’s hard about being an adult child of an older parent?
 What’s hard about being the parent of a teenager?
 Parents were once teenagers too. You many be the parent of
a teenager someday!

13. TOP 10 THINGS YOU OUGHTA KNOW
ABOUT PARENTS
10. Recognize how hard raising a child is.
9. Seek your parents’ advice and ask their opinions on hard
things
8. Blood really is thicker than water. Your family will always be
there.
7. The less you push your parents for something, the better your
chances are for getting what you want.
6. You’ll be respected only when you respect them.
5. Nothing good comes from fighting with you parents and being
against them.
4. Help around the house.
3. Do not underestimate their ideas and advice.
2. Do your homework, buy them flowers, and save money.
1 . Your parents don’t always have a reason.

14. STRESS RELIEVER OR STRESS GIVER?
 Are you a stress reliever or a stress giver?
 Do you try to help your parents in situations?
 Or do you cause more problems?

15. METHODS OF COMMUNICATION
 Mature communication styles
 Conflict resolution
 Resolving conflict with integrity

16. MATURE COMMUNICATION ST YLE
 A childish answer can elicit a childish response:
If you yell and throw tantrums, others
may yell and throw tantrums back.
 The goal is to get two individuals on the adult level of
communication.
 If you want to be treated like an adult, then act like
one…really!
 Which style of communication should we use to communicate
with our parents? (Passive, Aggressive or Assertive)

17. CONFLICT RESOLUTION
How to win with parents tips:
 Don’t bring up a problem when parents are busy.
 When a favor is wanted, ask for it—don’t tell.
 Stick to only one problem at a time.
 Never say, “All my friends…”

18. CONFLICT RESOLUTION
Always ask parents before making plans.
Do not be sarcastic.
Shouting is seldom convincing and only
leads to accelerated confrontation.
It is hard to carry on a meaningful.
conversation when composure is lost.
Inaccurate accusations never help.

19. RESOLVING CONFLICT WITH INTEGRIT Y
 Family members should be able to have differences
of opinions and ideas without the conflict.
 Family Feud Activity

20. SUMMARY
Teenagers will always struggle to find
their independence. Just
remember, increased freedom =
increased responsibility.
 Parents have many roles to fulfill. Make sure you are part of
the solution and not the problem.
Choose effective methods of
communication with your parents.
 Homework: “How Well Do You Know Your Parents?” Due
next class period.