The teen years are about finding out who they are, what they are suppose to be doing, and what is expected of them not so much from parents and authority figures, but from peers. Rebellion comes in degrees. Rebellion can appear as the full-blown juvenile delinquency found in the papers and media or it can be passive aggressive as forgetting about doing chores and homework. Every sin and parenting mistake you have ever made will become fodder for the teen to use to get their way.
Rebellion does have a positive side if it does not go too far. For some teens, it is protection from family dysfunction. It is a way to survive the chaos they never chose. Normal rebellion is a sign the teen is growing and maturing. The teen is well aware that in the next few years they will be leaving home. It would be hard to leave home if one never looked at the negative side of family. If you are going to experiment and be your bad little self, it is nice to have a parental safety net in case you go too far. Teens may protest, but they often are relieved that their parent stepped in. Emotionally it is a way to distance yourself from people you love so it will not devastate you when you go out into the world to find your life.
Raising teens is a balancing act. Too tight a rein and rebellion increases. Too loose a rein and wild behavior increases. It changes daily. Choose your battles carefully. Keep talking and keep disciplining. Most teens become young adults and life itself dissipates most of the rebellion.
