So keep both your expectations and standards high. But successful parents are also realistic. They know their teens won't always meet their expectations. So they give teens plenty of positive input. Whenever their teen does clean his room well or does remember to call when she's going to be late, Mom or Dad offers praise.
Praise is a much more effective motivator of good behavior than criticism.
We know you can do it. And we know you'll do better the next time. Knowing their parents believe in them gets them through times when they just want to give up or give in to temptation. Our teens want and need our trust, even though it may be hard. We can trust their morals because we've raised them in a moral environment.