1.  “I don’t think you really love me!”

2.  “I hate you!”

3.  Cursing

4.  “Why should I do what you say? You’re not my actual mom/dad!”

5.  Disrespectful looks, signs, motions or tone of voice

6.  “If you get angry at me, I’ll do something bad to myself/others.”

7.  Deception

8.  “I don’t care about school. I won’t go back!”

9.  “If you pressure me, I’ll just disappear!”

10.  “You don’t let me have any freedom!”

In greater detail...

 “I don’t think you really love me!”

Oftentimes, this remark is made by your teenager in order to cause you to second guess yourself as a parent. He is trying to make you feel guilty, and with quite a number of parents, this strategy usually works. When you tell your child to do his chores, you’re not attacking your own love for him. You are trying to foster responsibility in your child. Your teenager may definitely try to use this remark to wriggle out of penalties.

“I hate you!”

When your teenager says something like this, he is trying to make the cauldron tip. By saying something that will personally bother you, he is inducing your anger which then may restrain your capability to keep your cool and implement penalties.

Cursing

Again, cursing is a maneuver your teenager may use to try and make you blow off steam. Instead of focusing on the mistake he may have committed and the corresponding penalty he must face, you end up getting filled with anger.

“Why should I do what you say? You’re not my actual mom/dad!”

Now, this remark is one which is used frequently on stepparents. You must keep in mind that it’s not a matter of you being his biological parent but another strategy a defiant teen may try to use to get on your nerves. Your teenager will try to get on your nerves to derail you from the actual guideline or limit he broke.

Disrespectful looks, signs, motions or tone of voice

Bodily signs, looks, manner or presence, and tone of voice are major “tools” your teenager may use to thwart your emotions. Your best chance is to try and detach yourself from these irritating displays. Don’t take it personally, because as soon as he notices that his actions are getting to you, the sooner he’ll try them on you another time.