Teens will always have excuses as to why [breaking a rule] wasn't their fault. Some are so skilled they'll make you feel defensive for even questioning them.

In the best relationships, there remain serious pockets of unresolved bitterness.

Anything further that you say at this point is going to screw up your best chance at a good outcome.

Kids by nature sneak and lie. The wise parent can't rely on just what they're told. There's no question that, for the most part, talking to other parents allows you a control you couldn't have otherwise.

All the studies show that parents underestimate their own kid's risk behaviors versus what kids report they're actually doing. There's a big gap.

With parents, it's dramatically less so.