Q: Instead of assuming why your teen broke the rules, ask questions like, "What were your reasons for doing that?" Your teen will have to think through the situation and might end up understanding his or her error without your needing to explain it. It's okay for your teen to feel guilty. If your teen recognizes why what he or she did was wrong, the emotions that come with that realization may serve as a more effective punishment than one imposed by a parent. An appropriate punishment lasting several hours or several days, depending on the violation, can be very effective. Longer punishments often increase the chance that your teen will act out in response. But if your teen sees an end to the punishment, he or she will be more likely to accept it. Your teen should view your punishment as a reasonable response to his or her violation of the rules. If you let your emotions dictate the punishment, your teen is likely to see your punishment as arbitrary and cruel. Be an example for your teen. Teach your teen constructive ways to deal with conflict, so that he or she will have a constructive model for how to act in future relationships. When addressing your concerns, your choice of language can dramatically affect the conversation. Pinpoint exactly why you're upset. Using general terms like "irresponsible" will make your teen feel attacked. Instead, outline the specific infraction. If you lay down a punishment and end up not following through, your credibility will be damaged. Your teen may think they can get away with this behavior and start acting out even more. After a long day, it might be tempting to let your teen get away with breaking a rule. However, if your teen feels that the rules are arbitrarily enforced, he or she is less likely to take them seriously.
A: Ask questions. Give short-term consequences. Be rational. Be specific. Always follow through. Be consistent.

Q: Remember: practice makes perfect. Before you debut your tag for the world to see, start off with something that's for your eyes only. Grow accustomed to using spray-paint where you won't be embarrassed by any mistakes or mishaps. Use a canvas that you can practice on and repaint as needed without being arrested, such as: An actual large canvas A sheet of plywood A wall that belongs to you beforehand. Keep in mind that you want your tag to appear fluid and dynamic, regardless of how small or large it is. At the same time, realize that you will often need to move quickly to keep your lines nice and neat. Avoid mistakes that could be caused by a stiff body, aches, and cramps. Limber up beforehand. Also keep in mind: This goes for your whole body, not just your arms. Expect your waist, hips, legs, and feet to have an impact on the quality of your work. The larger the surface area to be covered, the wider your range of motion will need to be. A larger canvas means you have to reach, lean, and bend to a greater degree, and more often. Expect the paint's ingredients to separate over time. Always give it a vigorous shake before you use it, even if you only set it aside for a few minutes. Check the directions on the can to see how long you should shake, both before its first use and (if mentioned) again after a short pause. If you don't shake it up, the consistency will be uneven. This means that it will be extremely thin at times (which makes for a weak coat), and thicker at others (which could cause clogs). If you need to attach a separate spray cap to your can, expect this to release some paint as you do so. Stay away from your canvas so it doesn't get any spray-back. Place your finger (or better yet, a loose strip of tape) over the cap's nozzle to catch what comes out. Remember that many paints have toxic ingredients. Even those that don't should never be inhaled or ingested. Wear protective gloves and mask to reduce this risk. Before you try your hand at spraying your tag, start with simple lines sprayed from various distances. Judge the effect of how near or far you stand from your canvas. Expect a wider dispersal the farther back your stand. For neat, crisp lines, you need to work up close. For fades and shadows, you need more distance. Remember that the paint is going to dry immediately upon contact. Expect prolonged spraying over one area to result in a wet buildup. Avoid drips and runs by keeping the can in motion constantly, especially if you're aiming for very thin lines. Again, some experimentation may be needed here. Constant motion is always key, but do some practice lines at various speeds to see what effect each has on your lines. Another reason not to dawdle is if you decide to tag some place without permission. Once you're confident in your spray-painting skills, decide where to apply them. Avoid the temptation to simply tag a surface on impulse. Think before you act. Things to consider include: Whether the area has already been tagged, in which case you should choose another. How visible it is, since you may be better off improving your skills on less visible areas. If it's legal to tag this space, and if so, whose permission you need to obtain, if any. If it's illegal to do so, and if so, if you'll be easily noticed or caught.
A:
Practice first. Stretch Shake your can up. Put your spraying cap on well away from your canvas. Experiment with distance. Move quickly. Be choosy about locations.