How to Hold High Standards With Teens (Without Power Struggles)

Are you trying to set teen boundaries without your child calling you “controlling” or “the worst parent ever”?

If you want your teen to live by high standards—around tech, food, friends, habits, and lifestyle—you can’t just make it your standard and enforce it. It has to become their standard. In this episode of the Extraordinary Family Life Podcast, Greg and Rachel break down exactly how they helped their own teens buy in so deeply that they now say things like, “I’m not putting that garbage in my body,” or “I don’t waste my life on that.”

Instead of rules and power struggles, they show you how to prioritize relationship over rules, lean on unconditional love, and teach the laws that govern health, happiness, success, and addiction—so your kids see for themselves where certain choices lead. When teens understand the why behind your standards, they stop feeling controlled and start choosing those standards for themselves.

You’ll also hear how the Dennings have intentionally made real life more compelling than video games or junk food—often inviting friends along for the ride—so the “different” lifestyle isn’t a punishment, it’s an upgrade.

If you’ve ever wondered, “How do I hold the line without wrecking the relationship?” this conversation will give you a new framework: less control, more conviction—and a family standard that everyone owns.

🎉 Enrollment is now open for our Winter 2026

Habits for a Successful Life Online Class for Teens → Learn More Here

Key Takeaways

✅ It can’t be my standard; it has to become our standard as a family, or teens will always feel controlled.

✅ Prioritizing the relationship over the rules makes high standards easier to hold and easier for teens to accept.

✅ Unconditional love is the foundation, but standards and boundaries are still essential—just not weaponized.

✅ Focus less on control and correction, and more on conviction, conversion, and clear “why’s” behind your standards.

✅ Treat standards like universal laws (like gravity)—not arbitrary parent rules—so kids see cause and effect for themselves.

Memorable Quotes

🗣 “It can’t be my standard I enforce on my kids. It has to be our standard.”

🗣 “If we don’t live the message, we suck as the messenger.”

🗣 “The goal isn’t to make your child do what you want—it’s to help them want it for themselves.”

🗣 “Tell me your habits and I’ll tell you your future.”

🗣 “We’re not the creators of the rules—we’re the teachers of the laws that already exist.”

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Personal Anecdotes

00:38 Navigating Parenting Standards and Boundaries

01:10 The Challenge of Standing Out as Parents

02:53 Communicating Values and Standards to Teens

04:46 The Importance of Ownership in Standards

06:12 Understanding Consequences and Life Choices

08:21 Living the Message: The Role of Parents

11:02 The Balance of Unconditional Love and Standards

17:21 The Complexity of Love: Unconditional vs Conditional

18:41 Prioritizing Relationships Over Rules

21:58 Conviction vs Control in Parenting

26:25 Creating an Engaging Family Culture

30:29 Choosing the Hard Path for Greater Rewards

RESOURCES:

Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.

• How We Raised 7 Well-Adjusted Kids - Without Yelling, Tantrums, Punishments or Power Struggles (+ get THE CHECKLIST: Things We Do Every Day to Raise Well-Adjusted Kids)

• Rachel’s ⁠⁠Must-Read Booklist for Well-Read Moms⁠⁠

• Greg's ⁠⁠Recommended Reading List for Parents & Youth⁠⁠

• Join the 12-Week Habits Challenge for parents of kids 13+

• Don’t miss out on the .css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}