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Please define "backtalk"?

My 13 yr son backtalks terribly, but doesn't see it. When I call him on it, he has replied "Backtalk? You don't know what backtalk is! You need to look up backtalk in the dictionary!" etc. Backtalking about backtalking. I just need to get him back in the real world, because he claims I am not a normal parent for making a big deal of his challenging me. My other kids aren't like this, BTW.

9 Answers

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  • Anonymous
    2 decades ago
    Favorite Answer

    The best way I can describe "backtalk" is when someone is trying to reply with "smart" answers or replying back rudely when they shouldnt be talking out of disrespect.

  • Anonymous
    2 decades ago

    He is an individual. So he reacts and has a different personality the his silbings... backtalk to me is a response that is rude. However, you cannont control his words, thoughts or feelings. Many people will tell you that teenage years are not easy. The hard part is to let go. If you push him for certain words or actions, he will get in your face and then pull so far away from you, that you just want your little boy back (or have him grown and out, lol)

    I would suggest sitting down with him and get him to help extablish the rules. Or a wole family meeting. but he should have some say and strong influence. then decide together what the punishments will be. Include backtalk with a definition, on the list of rules and a consequence.

    The thing I TRY to remember with my daughter is NO EMOTION< NO TALKING. Man I have slipped on that. When handing out punishments. No emotion, don't give him that power (also tends to make kids feel like bad people if they can make the ones that love them soo angry.) And no talking. Let it go. When he is defensive, he is not open to learning from you anyway. So don't talk about it. Calmly hand ou thte punishment and talk about it after when all is calm and attitudes are open.

    Source(s): worked with speical needs teens for years.... fun stuff, lol Oh, I forgot the important part: No guilt. Life is a journey. You have done good, now you are doing great!:)
  • 2 decades ago

    Hm.

    Backtalk as I learned it (you know, through my mom) is when you are sarcastic or rude in responce to the reasonable request of a parent. ie: Help me with these bags, please.

    Is he the oldest? He might feel he has a right to talk back because he has "earned" it by being 13. If he's the youngest he might crave the right to be treated as an adult.

    Then again, every kid goes into that awful stage where they want to rebel. I hit mine when I was 19! Good luck!

  • Anonymous
    2 decades ago

    I would say backtalking is when your parents have said something like "you can't go out tonight" and the child responds rudely!

    I do believe in speaking tho, if he needs to get something off his chest or get his side heard thats fine as long as it's not in a rude manner!

    So i would say when you have put your foot down and he replies rudely, instead of calmly and rationally!

    But i don't think it's right for the parents to act rudely either cause that doesn't solve anything!

    Maybe ask him what he thinks it means and what you think it means and come to a happy medium!

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  • 2 decades ago

    My 17 year old sister does the same thing to my mom! Me too, and I have got to the point I'm wanting to knock her teeth out, harsh I know and I wouldn't do it but she makes me that upset. Some kids just can't help themselves, and nothing works as far as punishment. Try Doctor Phill web site and see if you can get help there

  • 2 decades ago

    backtalk is when you talk back to a person who is charge

  • 2 decades ago

    back talk is when you try to challenge the head honcho's final word which is totally disrespectful

  • 2 decades ago

    say "I am an adult and you are a child, when you are my age you will have a right to voice your opinion on this issue. until then your opinion does not matter and you have no right to talk back to me."

  • Nikki
    Lv 5
    2 decades ago

    when your parents are talking u don't reply with an answer nu say nothing

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