A new Approach for Understanding and Parenting Easily Frustrated

Daughter: Fine. Talk. Fast. 
Parent: Maybe we should find a better time to talk 
about it. 
Daughter: There is no good time to talk about this! 
Talk! Before I change my mind! 
Parent: OK. I know you have strong feelings for Kenny 
and you want to show him how you feel. 
Daughter: You’re repeating yourself. 
Parent: Yes, I am. I’m worried that you’re going to 
get pregnant. 

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174 
The Explosive Child 
Daughter: Oh, my God! I cannot believe we’re 
talking about this! This is so embarrassing! I’m not 
going to get pregnant! 
Parent: What’s keeping you from getting pregnant? 
Daughter: This is too embarrassing! 
Parent: So reassure me a little so we can stop talking 
about it. 
Daughter: Kenny uses condoms. I cannot believe this! 
Parent: Always? Every time? 
Daughter: Almost every time. Are we done? 
Parent: Uhm . . . almost. Almost every time means 
you could still get pregnant. 
Daughter: I’m not going to get pregnant! 
Parent: I appreciate your confidence about that. I’m 
just wondering how we can make me more 
confident about that. 
Daughter: It’s not my job to make you more 
confident about that. 
Parent: No, I guess it’s not. But I do worry, and I’d like 
to not worry. 
Daughter: Fine, stop worrying. 
Parent: I wish it was that easy. Look, as long as we’re 
on the topic, can we talk about one more thing? 
Daughter: This conversation is taking too long 
already. 
Parent: Should we talk about it another time? 
Daughter: No, let’s get this over with. 

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Learning Curves 
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