14. It's not easy being a teenager and it is not easy being the parent of a teenager. You can make your child feel angry, hut, or misunderstood by what you say without realizing (意识到) it yourself. It is important to give your child the space he needs to grow while letting him know that you'll always be there for him when he needs you. So here's some advice for you.
First, expect a lot from your child, just not everything. Second, keep everything else open to discussion (讨论) but not for health and safety problems like drug use and careless driving. Third, if your child is unwilling to talk about something, don't ask him to tell you what's on his mind. Instead, let him try to solve (解决) things by himself. At the same time, tell him that you're always there for him to ask for advice or help. Fourth, show respect for your teenager's privacy (隐私). Never read his mails or listen to his personal talks.
What's more, always ask your child to follow the family rules. For example, teach your teenager that the family phone is for the whole family If your child talks on the family telephone for too long, tell him he can talk for 15 minutes, but then he must stay off the phone for at least 15 minutes. This not only frees up the line so that other family members can make and get calls, but teaches your teenager moderation(节制). Or you can allow your teenager to have his own phone, but he can pay for it with his own pocket money or a part-time job.