Parents’ Evening
As anyone with adolescent children will tell you, parents’ evenings can be a chastening experience:
Richard III: IV, iv
As a parent you’ll need to take responsibility for the actions of your child, but only up to a point:
Richard III: II, ii
Support your position with any other excuses that you can call to mind.
The Tempest: I, ii
Academic Attainment:
School report time is an excellent opportunity for a frank appraisal of your child’s education:
Othello: V, ii
Giving voice to your sense of disappointment can be an excellent way of driving up standards:
King Lear: I, i
Family Mealtimes
Eating together is an important part of family life so don’t allow these get-togethers to be compromised by foul or unseemly behaviour:
[A trumpet sounds]
Titus Andronicus: V, iii
Show that you’re prepared to take a very firm line on this:
Titus Andronicus: V, iii
Fussy Eaters
Fussy eaters can be a real pain:
Twelfth Night: IV, i
If your child continues to be particular about their food explain in no uncertain terms what the alternative will be:
Titus Andronicus: IV, ii
A teenage son that is the very reverse of fussy, however, may pose a problem of a very different kind:
Henry VIII: I, i
Table Wars
Don’t allow mealtimes to turn into a battle of wills:
Henry V: V, i
Timon of Athens: IV, iii
Allow your child the right not to like certain foods, and have suitable alternatives on hand:
The Taming of the Shrew: IV, iii
Rebranding
When it comes to food some children will be fussy for fussy’s sake. Giving a new name to an old meal may help:
The Merchant of Venice: II, vii
Troilus and Cressida: I, ii
Alternatively, you may feel it’s time to add something new to the menu:
The Taming of the Shrew: IV, i
The Winter’s Tale: IV, iv
Dealing With Ungratefulness
Despite your best endeavours not everything that you provide for your dependant will be met with the anticipated level of appreciation:
King Lear: III, iii
Be open and honest about how this makes you feel:
King Lear: I, iv
Providing them with an opportunity to reflect independently on the many sacrifices you make on their behalf may be a good way of moving forward:
King Lear: I, i
Teenage Daughters
A teenage daughter can be a real worry, particularly come Friday night:
Hamlet: III, iv
Try to impress upon her the importance of encouraging the right kind of male attention . . .
The Merchant of Venice: II, vii
. . . understanding all the while that your daughter may choose to reject your good counsel.
Romeo and Juliet: III, i
General Unpleasantness
As the parent of a teenage daughter you could be forgiven for thinking that some of their rudeness is just a little bit unnecessary:
King Lear: I, iv
The Two Gentlem of Verona: IV, iv
Offer a reminder of the father daughter relationship as it exists in popular tradition
A Midsummer Night’s Dream: I, i
and try not to be disheartened if you don’t see immediate results:
Henry IV Part 1: II, ii
Henry IV Part 1: III, iii
Sloth
Teenage boys have a particular tendency towards sloth and may need support in observing traditional sleeping and waking patterns:
Romeo and Juliet: IV, v
Richard III: V, iii
Building Bridges
Taking an interest in popular youth culture can be a good way of bridging the inter-generational gap,
Much Ado About Nothing: II, iii
Henry VI Part 2: III, i
. . . but be realistic about the size of gap that you can reasonably hope to bridge:
Twelfth Night: II, iv
The Two Gentlemen of Verona: IV, ii
Unregulated Play
Episodes of unregulated play can quickly degenerate into behaviour that needs to be challenged:
The Merchant of Venice: I, i
If you can’t negotiate an improvement in behaviour per se, try to broker an agreement regarding its precise location:
Twelfth Night: IV, i
Dangerous Play
Boys can be particularly thoughtless when it comes to the consequences of dangerous play:
Hamlet: V, ii
Oversympathising may not be the answer, and could even be seen as an affirmation of risky behaviour.
Richard III: IV, ii
Antony and Cleopatra: I, ii
Dealing With Insolence
Be quick to realise when your efforts at reform are not being taken seriously:
King Lear: II, ii
Be prepared to accept the assistance of your partner, they may be able to support you in a way you had not envisaged:
Othello: II, iii
Coping With Regret
Getting a visit from your neighbour about your sons’ antisocial behaviour can make for uncomfortable listening . . .
Titus Andronicus: II, iii
. . . and may lead to moments of deep personal regret:
Richard III: II, ii
Henry IV part 2: IV, iii
Don’t be too quick to blame yourself. If you’re struggling with this look to your partner for some words of support:
The Tempest: I, ii
Oratory
Do not underestimate the power of a finely worded, well rehearsed speech:
All’s Well That Ends Well: II, iii