Teen doubles down when he’s wrong. Will he outgrow it? Hax readers give advice.
We asked readers to channel their inner Carolyn Hax and answer this question.
Dear Carolyn: My oldest son is 15 and Knows Everything. He makes statements that are provably wrong, but nothing will budge him. Recently, we were at a fair on a warm day. We passed a place that was selling apple freezies and cider. I offered to get us some and he said, “Ugh, who wants cider when it’s so hot out?” He believes cider is always served hot. We pointed out the chillers the cider was served from and the lack of steam from the cups. Nope, he doubled down and insisted he was right.
It’s driving me nuts. I understand him not believing his parents, but the evidence of his own eyes? Arguing just causes him to dig his heels in, but I don’t want him to grow up with this attitude. Please tell me it’s a phase he’ll grow out of. Otherwise, how do we guide him?
