Fighting with Mom: Tips for Talking to Mom from BeingGirl

BeingGirl Points - Major Bragging Rights

Show everyone what a superstar you are by racking up BeingGirl points. The more active you are on the site—taking quizzes and polls, playing games, commenting on articles, and submitting questions to Ask the Experts—the more points you’ll earn.

My Relationships

« Back to My Relationshi... Questions

Added November 22, 2011

Fighting With Mom: How To Get Along

2668
1

Dear BeingGirl Experts,

My Mom and I always seem to get in fights. No matter how much I try to get along with her, it never works. I think that sometimes she favors my sister. I get grounded all the time, and my sister can do the same thing and get away with it, no problem. Do you have any idea what I should do?

Bailey

---

Dear Bailey,

Being a teen is fun and hard. Just as being a mom is fun and hard. Chances are mom dislikes the fights and times of conflict as much as you do. Several ideas may be helpful when dealing with mom:

Avoid starting sentences with, "Everyone else..." because this pushes parents' buttons.
Agree sometimes and say, "That's true," or, "Good idea," or "I see what you mean."
Give occasional compliments. Even "That looks nice," or "That was a great meal," can lift a mood.
Be as grown up as you can. When you act like an adult, this will likely bring out the adult in your mom too.
Don’t get an attitude when you don’t get your way—you know the attitude she dislikes, and it’s the one I am referring to.
Don't try to have the last word.

It is not easy to change patterns, but it is possible.

Hope this helps,

Your BeingGirl Experts