Published on CatholicMom.com

My teen daughter and I have been butting heads lately. No matter what issue I raise with her, or what lesson I try to teach her, she argues back. She used to be such an easy kid: so approachable and willing to learn. I’ve been chalking it up to her being a teen. However, I’m still not okay with the disrespect it results in.

Recently, when I called her on it, she responded, “I’m not trying to be disrespectful. I’m just trying to defend myself.” I told her that was the root of the problem. She couldn’t be hearing and addressing the issues I raise if she’s too busy building her case against what I’m saying.

That’s when she replied: “But the way you talk to me lately feels like an attack. It automatically makes me defensive. I feel like I have to defend myself all the time.”

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