Given the media focus on the the rigorous high school curriculum, homework and extracurricular demands on overachieving teenagers, it may be surprising to some that one of the more common problems in parenting teenagers is dealing with those that consistently underachieve in school. Often this is not due to drug use, depression or another serious medical issue, but simply general slacking, laziness, lack of family connection and sloppy and irresponsible habits.

Many of these kids may have been decent students when they were younger, but changed significantly for the worse when they hit the teenage years. The best advice for parents of these teenagers is that they need to exercise patience and good communication skills. Fighting and yelling are not effective tactics, so parents must force themselves out of this bad pattern of behavior.

One challenging issue when it comes to parenting teenage children are the battles over clothing that often take place. It is always a struggle to get your teenagers to wear jackets in the spring, when they want nothing more then to throw their old winter jacket off for good.

Some parents have even reported having arguments with their kids about wearing jackets when it's 14 degrees outside with a frosty wind chill. This raises the question of how much parents should be worried about the risks to their kids from cold weather exposure. Many teenagers say that they refuse to bundle up because "it's not cool" or "coats are uncomfortable." Parents' warnings that they will get sick don't seem to phase them much, and pediatricians agree that the cold air is not responsible for causing kids to get sick in the winter.

Communication with teens is notoriously difficult for many parents, but by following some simple guidelines, the "teen commandments", you can help to break down the communication barrier for more effective parenting. If you can reach an agreement with your teen on these guidelines, both your life and theirs should be a lot easier.

The first commandment is that they will not slam any doors regardless of the situation. Also, they will not use the word "why" unnecessarily, and will not return empty containers to the cabinets or fridge. A good rule of thumb for parents is to praise their teens in public, and save the criticism for private conversations. When they really screw up, this is the time when they need their parents the most, and yes, you do have to tell them the same thing a thousand times so you just have to accept that fact.