“Because I said so!” you yell back at your teen when he or she questions your rules for the nth time. The door slams. Silence. You wonder what you’re doing wrong. Oh, what a nightmare Parenting Teens can be.

All over the world, parents struggle to find the right way to deal with their difficult teens. Sadly, nothing seems to work. Parents and teens just seem destined to clash.

But can you believe it doesn’t have to be like that?

Parenting teens will always be challenging, that’s a fact. However, it doesn’t have to be a nightmare as most parents probably already accepted it should be. There is a way around this problem.

But before we go the solution, let’s have a little review of some very important facts we, as parents, should never forget when we are dealing with teens.

Teens are in a period of their lives where they are confused and scared of the changes going on. This makes them particularly vulnerable to the different temptations and pressures exerted upon them. They try to act like they are grown ups but they lack the maturity and the understanding required of one.

Teens are not adults. They are not children either. So, how should parents deal with them? One of the most common mistakes in parenting teens is the failure of parents to recognize that the new set of challenges facing them now require a different set of rules, a different approach.

Although teenagers are not yet adults, they are capable of understanding better than children. Thus, communication, if done the right way, can work on them.

By the way, that means screaming, “Because I said so!” is absolutely the wrong way to do it.

So, when that door which was slammed shut finally opens again, enter it and sit down with your teen. Open and honest communication is key to parenting teens.

Explain to them the reason why you lay down all the rules in the house. Tell them why you do it. Don’t be afraid to let them know it is actually for their own good. The important part here is for them to know you do it because you care and love them.

Teenagers are extremely insecure and need to be assured that they are loved and that you will be there for them no matter the situation.

By letting them know you recognize that they are growing up and that you are there to help them with “big” decisions and deal with the changes confronting them, you are presenting yourself to them as their mentor and friend – not Mr. Killjoy.

In parenting teens, it is crucial that your teens do not look at you as the enemy. If you sincerely want to help them become dependable and responsible adults in the future, begin the process of handing them the reins to their lives now.

For more information on how you accomplish this successfully or for other tips on parenting teens, try out Total Transformation – the at-home behavior change program that will help transform relationships of parents and difficult teens.