Does your teen always have one more promise, one more deal, or ‘just this once’ plea? You’re not imagining it. The moment you start negotiating with your teen, you’re pulled into a messy family dynamic that almost never works out the way you hope it will.

In this episode, Seth and I talk about why these IOUs, bargains, and “I swear I’ll do it tomorrow” promises fall apart so quickly, and why they often leave you feeling resentful, confused, or taken advantage of. And more importantly, how can you stop negotiating with your teen and begin creating the kind of consistent boundaries that set them up for real responsibility, maturity, and independence?

Together, we explore what’s actually happening in your teen’s brain when they make promises they likely won’t keep, why the “just this once” pattern spirals into entitlement and power struggles, and how you can step out of this cycle with your teen or young adult.

In this episode on how to stop negotiating with your teen, we discuss:

• Why deals, IOUs, and promises rarely work, even when your teen means them;
• How “just this once” accidentally creates entitlement;
• The resentment parents often feel when negotiations fall apart;
• Why teens and young adults bargain for privileges and what’s happening developmentally;
• The difference between earning a privilege vs. negotiating for one;
• How to set clear expectations before a privilege is used;
• What to say when your teen forgets, avoids, or pushes back;
• Why things often get worse before they get better when you change the pattern;
• How consistent follow-through leads to accountability and maturity over time.

Looking for support?

🗺️Need help setting healthy boundaries with your teen AND following through? My free guide will help you do so by creating your own Parent Home Plan!

🤍Influence lasting change in yourself and your struggling teen with my private coaching or parent group program specifically created for parents of struggling teens.

Have a question or need support? You can email me at beth@bethhillmancoaching.com

You can support the show by:

Leaving a review

Subscribing to the show

And remember parents, the change begins with us.