From Chores to Choices
Teaching Teens the Art of Responsibility
Raising a responsible teenager can be challenging. As children navigate the social and hormonal riptides of adolescence, parents may wonder if an alien has landed in the house. While teaching children personal responsibility is important from toddlerhood on, the stakes rise sharply when your child enters adolescence. Teens’ choices in friendships, school, and extracurricular activities shape who they become as adults. Parental roles shift, too, from providing direct care to a coach, monitoring the teens’ activities more from the sidelines. SET A DIRECTION Many adolescents yearn for independence. That desire can be a powerful incentive for them to learn responsibility. Talk with your teen about the benefits that await them if they learn to finish homework on time, keep promises, and do their assigned chores.
If you catch them behaving responsibly (for example, consistently getting ready for school on time with their homework done), praise them and remind them that consistent, responsible behavior will earn them greater independence. Help your child learn the skills needed to manage adult responsibilities by helping them plan ahead and break projects into manageable tasks. And if they slack off on an assignment, don’t intervene with the teacher! Let them suffer the bad grade. ALLOW NATURAL CONSEQUENCES Seeing teens endure the consequences of their missteps can be difficult. But it is one of the most effective ways to teach responsibility. For example, if they forget to do their laundry, they may be stuck wearing an outfit they dislike. Point out examples in books, TV, or films of how unattractive irresponsible behavior
can be to others. It is easy to dislike Harry Potter’s selfish Muggle relatives, the Dursleys, for example, for shirking their responsibility to care for Harry. Remind your child that taking responsibility for one’s mistakes is a major step toward becoming the kind of person others trust and appreciate. Be a good listener and observer. If you notice your child struggling, explore whether it’s mental health difficulties, feeling overwhelmed, or being bullied. In those cases, you may need to intervene and provide support. Above all, set an example you would like your child to follow. As a famous author once said, don’t worry about whether your child is listening. Worry that they are watching! Your example will speak louder than any words as your child enters adulthood.
Ring in 2026 With a Smart Estate Plan Ensure Your Estate Plan Matches Your Vision
As the year comes to a close, many of us are eyeing new goals and looking ahead at what we want to accomplish in 2026. But, before the calendar flips, it’s also the perfect time to review your estate plan. Life can change quickly, and so can family dynamics, laws, and your assets. A few thoughtful updates to your estate plan now can ensure your wishes are clear, your information is up-to-date, and your loved ones and legacy are protected. MAJOR CHANGES, MAJOR UPDATES Start by considering any significant milestones or changes in your life or family. If your family dynamics, wealth, location, job, or health have shifted, those are all signs that it may be time to update your estate plan. Some of the most common changes can greatly impact your designations. A marriage or divorce means you need to update any payable on death beneficiaries on bank accounts or life insurance policies, as well as update your will
or trust, so your spouse is accounted for. A new child in the family may mean you need to add provisions for their inheritance or future care if something should happen to you. Think about your executors or trustees as well. If one of those individuals dies or something changes with your current agents, you must designate new people to serve in those roles. PLAN AHEAD Not only do you want to make sure all the details of your plan reflect your current situation, but you can also use this end-of-year review to start thinking about the future. Being proactive helps you keep your goals at the forefront and align your estate plan to accomplish them. Review your financial accounts to check that they are appropriately titled and beneficiary designations are correct on any joint accounts, retirement accounts, or trusts. Analyze your insurance coverage and think about whether you need to increase your coverage to cover future long-term
care or provide for a child. It’s never too early to think about taxes, so this is an opportunity to explore strategies to reduce your tax liabilities. Give yourself a fresh start in 2026 with an estate plan that reflects your vision for the future and your current values and needs. Contact Douglass & Runger today to schedule a plan review and gift yourself peace of mind this holiday season.
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