Source: Toronto Globe and Mail

I've written about how to talk to teenage sons about responsible sexual behaviour – being considerate, always, of the wants and feelings of a potential sex partner.

But there's another talk you should have with your son: It is about abuse.

Many teenage boys – it has probably always been so – are abusive to their girlfriends. Most are not, but many are. How can you know whether your teenage son is abusive, or potentially abusive, with women? You can't.

That's why it's important for you to talk outright with your son – about what constitutes abuse, and why such behaviours are flat-out wrong. Many of the behaviours that I will list seem obvious. But most boys who abuse their girlfriends either do not think that what they are doing is abuse or think that it's somehow justified.
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