Danny R. Gibson, LMFT: I would like to address the comment that I would often hear a lot when I was growing was from my parent ‘because I said so’. Why I say so is such an easy response for a parent is it sort of cuts the topic of conversation off. It’s not always the best way to sort of respond to a teenager particularly.
A teenager doesn’t want ‘because I said so’ they want an explanation; they want a reason behind why you say they can’t do something. So it’s important to have them sort of buy-in if you can. By saying, “you can’t do xyz because it’s dangerous” or “I don’t want you to go to this place because I don’t feel it’s the right time. You have other responsibilities” So by saying, ‘because I said so’ requires a little bit more finesse and a little bit more follow up with. Just to help everyone in the situation.