Rebellions may cause permanent and damaging changes in your child.

This fact is similar to any other stage in his development. The child entered the toilet training stage with wet diapers and left without wet diapers. That change was for the better.

This change is less predictable. However, if the child was raised properly beforehand, there is a greater chance that he will follow in the right direction.

You, as a parent, may be able to reduce the intensity of his rebellion if the child allows you to initiate a dialogue, even though it may lead to giving in to selected demands. That dialogue may also reduce the permanent damage.

Keep in mind that you do have limitations. Your child is showing you that you are no longer entirely in control. He now has a strong say in his own direction in life. Whether this is a positive or a negative direction is no longer the issue. The important fact is that the child is about to take control of his life.