That is totally your call. Teens many times don’t think they feel. That is why they become addicted to things rather easily. They need you to think sensibly for them at times. That is the role of the parent.
Q and A – How do you work with a preschooler who is developing a bad attitude?
Discipline attitude as much or more than actions. A child’s actions may be inappropriate but his or her attitude may be fine. For example we don’t allow our kids to eat in their rooms (most of the time). When we moved into our new home our son forgot the rule and took cereal into his room. Now his attitude wasn’t rebellious, but his actions were against what we had told him. We simply forgave him and encouraged him not to do it again. On another occasion we reminded him of a rule – as he obeyed, he stomped his feet, stuck out his lip and pouted. We punished him for that one.
