Against some common belief you do have a choice with parenting your teenager: You can either fight all day or just laugh together, have a blast and still get your point across.
Option #2 is working amazingly well whenever I have my daughter around.
There are opportunities to pick a fight each day but I don’t even see them any longer. Since I don’t hold grudges she pretty much can’t do so either. She knows I’d make a fool out of her and eventually she’d end up laughing about herself.
Yes, we do have great conversation as well. She shares and listens to what I have to say. I can’t force these moments, though. I just have to be fully present once they arive.
Open communication with an almost 14 year old? What more can you ask for?