I have been working with Teenagers for over 35 years. I learned my trade initially by study, which gave me an outline and which then was filled in and enhanced by the years of working directly working with them. I still find adolescents the most invigorating, challenging and often perplexing anthropogenic species that I have encountered.

The following is about one area which perplexed me for some time.

I have seen families where everything seems to be fine. There is plenty of love and time for the children, there are rules and boundaries, the family do exciting things together but they still manage to encourage the children to have individual interests and plenty of their own time with friends. They even have regular meals sat around the table together.

As the children get older they face the normal range of difficulties often experienced in families with teenagers, such as them becoming less cooperative, moody, room is a mess, coming in late etc... The issues are coped with, family life is still reasonable and life continues in a positive if tiring vein. The teenager is doing more things with his or her friends and parents are becoming taxi drivers and have to keep retuning the car radio to the stations that they prefer. Parents deal with the wishes to change of hair style or colour, tattoos, body piercing and changes in clothing style, staying out later etc... The good resolution of conflict and disagreement is common. Life may not be as harmonious as it was but it is still reasonable, with the parents understanding that this is all part of the