Why Does Your Teen Rebel?

What do we live for, if not to make life more difficult for others?"-Charles W. Eliot

This quote describes a common situation between rebelling teens and their parents. The teen wants to go out, not do their chores, and have fun. The parents want their child to stay home, clean their room, and study for next week's history exam. Why does this occur on a day-to-day basis? Why can't we all just get along?

Lawrence Fuchs says that: "With the culture's strong bias against helping the adolescent come to his new identity as adult in terms of family background, he or she is forced into poignant, anguished and often narcissistic introspection." (25). The teen years are a confusing time for all of us and many families face problems including my own.

In a personal interview with my brother (a teen) and my mother (obviously a parent), some mutual issues come up.

Interview with Jason Tharp:

Me: "What kinds of things do you fight about with your parents?"

Jason: "Chores; playing the stereo; cleaning my room; and spending the night with friends."

Me: "Did you ever solve these problems with your parents?"

Jason: "I still fight about these problems."

Interview with Linda Tharp:

Me: "What kinds of things do you fight about with your teen children?"

Linda: "Cleaning their rooms; washing dishes; cleaning the house; feeding the pets; taking trash out; going places on weekends."

Me: "How do you solve these problems with your teens?"

Linda: "I usually make them do them anyway-except for the bedrooms, they stay messy. And 'no means no'. But sometimes I give in to you guys."