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Personal Accountability
Are You Teaching Your Teen the Blame Game? By Tamekia Reece
Just because you change your finger pointing ways doesn't mean your teen will automatically follow suit. Here's how you can get your children to mirror your new behavior and stop playing the game of blame.
- Model it. This should go without saying, but don't expect your teen to "do as I say and not as I do." In order for him to stop blaming others for his actions, you can't just tell him to stop; let him see that you've stopped. Then and only then will he pick up that this is something you're serious about.
- Confront it. When you see or hear your teen blaming others or thinking like a victim, point it out and help him change the behavior by thinking of a better question or realizing what role he may have played in the situation. Don't just let it pass, thinking he'll get it eventually. You've got to make sure he eliminates blame-placing each and every time he starts to do it.
- Make home a "no-excuses" zone. If you make your home into a place where no excuses and no blame-throwing is the rule, your children are bound to get it, even if it's by accident. Eventually everyone in the house (including you) will catch themselves and correct it each time they start to make an excuse or place blame on others. And that's what being personally accountable is all about.
