Richard Hogan: Kids want boundaries — give them to them for a happy home

A family without rules, principles and values so quickly descends into an inverted hierarchy

Richard Hogan, putting boundaries in place is important for teenagers.

Working in the interest of your future self is such an important concept if you want to bring any desired goal into life. I tell teenagers doing the Leaving Certificate at this time of year, think about September you, how do you want that person to feel? Do you want them to be proud of the work they did this year? What do you want to achieve in the exam?

Well, to do that you have to delay gratification in the present by working in the interest of that future self. I can see the lightbulb going on. It is also something I say to parents sitting in my clinic discussing family rules. If you want the house to run smoothly over the long and, at times difficult years of adolescence, you have to work in the interest of that future house.