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How would you have dealt with this ‘tween situation?

As we’re leaving a friend’s place tonight (after sitting around the fire pit) my tween gets on his scooter as though he’s going to ride home alone. I tell him to put the scooter in the Jeep and get in (it’s dark at this point and I’m not going to let him scoot home alone)
Now he’s pissed (teenaged hormones!) and he’s questioning me. After some discussion, and as he’s seated in the seat next to me, he says cockily, “ You better not try to stop me from riding my dirt bike like this, or else I’ll make your whole weekend miserable!”

Of course I responded with some version of “Ha! Who do you think you are? As if you have that kind of power!”

He said “Oh yeah,? Like you can stop me....I know how to syphon gas”

(Earlier in the night, we had discussed the fact that he needs to earn his tanks full of gas when we are out dirt biking, and that gas isn’t free)

Anyway...at that point I reached out and smacked his mouth. As far as I am concerned, he deserved that smack. He was being totally cocky and the smartassery was running rampant!

How would you have dealt with it?
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Livingwell · 61-69, M
You did good Mom. If I had done that as a kid I’d be wearing dentures now. My mom gave me a couple of good slaps for being mouthy. When my daughters did that they discovered the taste of soap. If he was my son he would have been on the ground. Respect is well learned sooner than later.
ImpeccablyImperfect · 51-55, F
Haha thanks. I agree, the level of respect has dropped significantly. There’s no way in hell I would have said anything like that to my mom! I am determined to teach my kids the same respect. 😊 @Livingwell