Argue or Debate?

Having a teenage kid is one hell of a challenge to parents. Teenagers already have their own reasons, and wants for themselves, it is a challenge to make them do something that they don't want to do in the first place like household chores.

Apparently as a parent, I realize that we have to be the following:

• Firm - make them realize that we stick to our decision, else they will get their way out of a situation thinking that they can always persuade you.

• Argument or debate - I guess it's a debate when your teenager is throwing excuses and reasons not to do the things she must do. A matter of convincing that what she's doing is for the good of everyone and being right is part of it. They have their own perception of what is right and wrong. but sometimes since they are still kids, we have to prove our point. My eldest love to debate, good thing she speaks her mind BUT she carelessly handle words. Always blunt must I say. Although I can say it's a good thing since we are communicating.

• Always end the argument with "I love you", this works. I know for sure that whenever we have debate or argument she always knows that I love her know matter what. :)

At some point, how I wish there could be a handbook how to handle kids. Each of one of them is different, but at times they are the one who teach how are we going to handle them. :)