BellaOnline Forums Family Adolescence Saying No and Meaning No

Saying NO to teenagers can be one of the more difficult aspects of parenting. Remembering the times I had to say no brings back some difficult memories. There were times when saying yes would have been far easier in the short term! For a whole host of reasons I would stick to my decisions,as difficult as life sometimes became.
Have other parents found saying No to teenagers difficult?

With Christmas approaching, saying no to expense presents can be
very difficult.
Explain firmly but gently that there is a budget. Most teenagers are understanding of family situations.
Pushing out the stresses of Christmas will leave everyone feeling the benefit.
Spending time with teens is a win-win situation. When parents handle the financial budgets sensibly they send a positive message to the kids.
If previous Christmases have proven difficult because of overspending this is a good time to turn a corner.
Most teens have a good sense of difficulties happening in families. Trust them to be understanding.

I think it's hard to say no to anybody we care for. This could be a spouse, a partner, a parent, a toddler, and a teen.

A challenge with teens is that while toddlers may quickly forget the incident, and while a spouse can rationally work through the situation in a mature manner, a teen has just enough maturity to remember it for weeks and just enough lack of maturity to wallow in resentment and a feeling of martyrdom.

That is why adults need to build the maturity and strength to be the 'adult in the house'. To follow the path that leads to a safe, healthy environment for everyone.