When “Clean your room” somehow becomes World War III
Have you ever said something simple like:
“Go outside for some fresh air.”
“Please clean your room.”
“Can you just be respectful?”
And somehow… within seconds… you’re in a full-blown argument?
You’re not alone.
It’s wild how fast those everyday moments spiral.
The rule isn’t unreasonable. The reaction feels completely over the top.
And you’re left thinking, What just happened here?
Here’s what I’ve seen again and again with the families I work with:
It’s not just about the rule.
It’s about how the rule lands.
How it feels to your teen in that moment—when they’re already carrying stress, pressure, or emotion they haven’t named yet.
When rules feel like they’re being done to them, they resist.
But when teens feel like they have some voice, some responsibility
The power struggle starts to dissolve.
This doesn’t mean giving in or backing down.
It means shifting how we communicate.
Next time, try:
💭 “What about this is so hard right now?” or
“How might you handle this differently next time?”
It doesn’t fix everything overnight.
But it opens the door.
And if you’re thinking, That sounds great… but I get frustrated too fast to remember any of this in the moment…
That doesn’t mean you’re failing.
It means you care.
And this parenting teens thing? It’s hard.
You don’t have to figure it out alone.
❤️ Jeanine
P.S. If every conversation feels like a battle, let’s change that. Book a free Parenting Breakthrough Call, and let’s talk about what’s really going on—and how to make things feel better, fast.
