Disclaimer: If I owned Monk (besides the first 7 sessions of it on DVD) Monk wouldn't exist because Trudy would still be alive therefore it is safe to say that I don't own Monk. Credit goes to NilesClover for the insperation for this story. Thank you NilesClover
Natalie came into Mr. Monk's house and slammed the door.
"DAMNIT," she yelled, "DAMNIT, DAMNIT, DAMNIT, DAMNIT, DAMNIT"
"Something wrong Natalie," Monk asked
"Oh I just had another argument with Julie," Natalie explained rubbing her throbbing head with her fingers, "I just don't know how to get through to her anymore. I don't want to take it up a notch but-"
"You're going about it the wrong way," Monk explained
"Oh? I'm not sure what you mean."
"Natalie, the tougher you are getting with Julie the more she's going to rebel. It's the natural order of teenager, parent relationships"
Natalie looked at Monk for a minute. What did he know about teenager/parent relationships?
"She knows I love her"
"Of course she does," Monk said, "but her hormones are out of control and she feels like she has no control so every time she's hurt she pushes back"
Natalie blinked.
Monk was saying something smart and it had nothing to do with a homicide.
"Okay but she's doing things that can hurt herself. What else can I do if I don't punish her?"
"Teach her. That's what discipline means"
"She doesn't listen to my lectures," Natalie said
"Natalie I did not say lecture her. I said teach her. She drinks sometimes for example so bring her to a rehab center and let her see what drinking can do to a person. She hangs out with bad people who break the law and they call her their friend so take her to visit a prison and show her what will happen to her so called friends if they don't get their act together.
"She was driving underaged and like a speed demon the other day you said so take her down to the morgue and let her see what happens when a car goes too fast. Take her to see the world and the consequences of her own behavior. After that you sit her down and explain to her that you love her and you don't want anything to happen to her. Let her know that she can make choices about herself but you're not going to let her make the ones that put her in the places she saw today. Tell her that you're sorry for being so hard on her but you don't know any other way to prevent disaster.
"Next," he continued, "ask her for some ideas. Ask her how what ideas she could come up with and as long as it's reasonable go along with it"
"You really think that would work," Natalie asked
"Try it," Monk said, "obviously what you're doing now isn't working"
Natalie glared at Monk but she knew he was right.
"Come on Mr. Monk," she told him
"Where?"
"You're going with me," she said, "we're going to show Julie these things together. You're like a father to her, she loves you"
"Okay," Monk said, "but you'd better have a lot of wipes"
