How would you guys handle a teen that says he has "freedom of speech" and that he is in a "free country"???? Won't do what we ask him and acts ridiculously insane in a public setting to call attention to himself and says that we should embrace it because that is how he is and we should respect that.

HELP!!!

I am not sure how old your teen is. I would remind him that although we all have freedoms, there are laws and common deciency involved as well. In your house it is not a democracy "persay" it is a place where he is allowed his opinions but ultimately you have the last say on every issue because he is not 18, he does not pay rent and his name is not on the title of this dwelling or rental contract. (something to that effect) I would suggest trying not to say it during an argument.( I would also have to take into account whether you think he would just leave because he is being so oppressed!)

I would let him know that you do embrace the fact that he is "comfortable in his own skin" and doesn't feel pressured to conform BUT we all have to conform to a certain degree if we want to move in a forward prgression toward an adult goal in life. I told my middle son (artist, liberal, clothes, hair, pot..ect) that I am an adult and have all the freedoms afforded me in the constitution of this great country but I still have to drive 55 when sometimes I don't feel like it. I also kow it is disrespectful to walk into church talking loudly.. I used a couple of other examples as well. (I don't get angry) i remind him that we have to have to a certain degree laws and rules to keep things from getting out of hand and that is what you expect in your home and when you guys are out in public. You expect him to control his urges to so loudly express his freedoms as he wishes to call them. He may very well be "infringing on others freedoms" if he makes a scene and is in a group of people who don't feel the same way he does. There is a time and place for every thing.

I hope this helps to some degree. I have three sons ages 23,20 and 19 they are all still at home and they all have very different personallites. Somehow we manage to make it work.

He is 14 and he thinks he's a lawyer! lol.... I am at wit's end.  Especially because he is not my biological son.  He is from my husband's previous marriage, but has lived with us since he was 6yrs old.  He doesn't get along with his mother and has valid reasons for that.  

He was always pretty respectful, but as of late, the floodgates have swung wide open! He thinks of me as his mother and has said that many times, but he loves to get under our skin...as with most teenagers I'm guessing.  

We are pretty open-minded and feel we grant them a good amount of independence.....but he still wants more....Thank you for your suggestions.  I will try to put this into practice.

I have a son who's 13, and sometimes we call him "The Lawyer" because he tends to argue his point thinking that he has to win-no matter what.

It gets prettry challenging at times, but we let him know that he has the right to his opinion, but as parents, and adults we have the final say/decision. plus, he's stuck with us until he becomes a responsible adult, then he can make his decisions,pay rent, and support himself.