Richard Hogan: Good boundaries can help prevent trouble in future

"A difficult teenager, defying all the rules can really impact the wellbeing of the entire family and rupture a healthy relationship between parents."

A lack of boundaries can result in a difficult relationship with your teen

‘Good fences make good neighbours’ says Robert Frost in the poem, Mending Wall. I often think of that line when I’m working with families struggling with difficult teenagers. I hear myself paraphrasing the line, ‘good boundaries make good teenagers’. 

Healthy boundaries teach children how to regulate themselves. A very important attribute to develop in your child before they move into the difficult adolescent years. We are all hoping to launch healthy/happy children into the world that will be able to make the right decisions when we are not around.