Do you punish your tween for saying I hate you etc ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What you need is a witty retort. I remember one episode of Malcolm in the Middle where he said "I wish you were dead" to his mother. Her reply was "Well, I'm taking you with me."

A witty retort is worth its weight in gold, but for the life of me I can't think of one right now.

Anyone?

There were five of us, and if any of my brothers said I hate you (I would NEVER have had the guts to say it), my mother said "Well take a number mister, because it's not the first time I've heard that!" There was never a punishment for the words, usually just the deeds that caused the argument. My brothers are all fine, well-adjusted men who would cringe to think they ever said those words to my mother now!

She would also say, "Well I'm not real thrilled with you right now either!" That one made me laugh!

I say that. Or something along the lines of "you're not currently that high on my list, either".

[Anonymous]

I have a tween and a teen. My tween doesn't say it (yet) but my teen sure does. I would never punish for that. Teens and tweens a very hormonal and often their emotions run high and they express themselves inappropriately, especially when frustrated. I just say "well I love you and I am sorry you feel that way right now." Later, when they apologize, I tell them that its ok, and that I say things I regret too sometimes (because I have, because my teen can make me crazy).