Why parenting teens is my favorite season seems sort of an oxymoron. Teenagers have this terrible rap that they are moody, obnoxious, lazy, blah, blah, blah. I’ve not found this to be true for teenagers any more than it is for any other age level. Your teenagers will rise to your expectations. Set them high.
I set the same expectations for my teenagers that I set for myself. If I want my teenagers to be Spirit filled servants of Christ then I need to mentor them in that direction. I need to walk the talk if you will. I need to step up beside them to guide them along the path. There is less caretaking in this season . It’s more about guidance as well as joining them in the journey.
Guiding them to find their God given talents is such a breath taking experience. You can see their personalities and opinions emerging. You can have long deep discussions over coffee about life, politics, religions or current events. You get to hear their opinions knowing that you had a hand in forming them. You can do Bible studies together. Service opportunities became life experiences taken together. Journeys are taken to work on talents to bring glory to God. It’s far easier to take adventures at this age. Spontaneity is appreciated in addition to being doable.
The teenage season is a time for making the transition from parent to friend. There are still plenty of opportunities to parent in this season. Teenagers still need structure as well as boundaries. They just need to believe they have a say in those boundaries . Gone are the days of ultimate authority. Gone is the phrase “Because I said so”. Teenagers need to feel safe to make mistakes while in the comfort of the home. You want those mistakes to happen while you still have a hand in guiding them to the right decision.
The teenage season is a fun time for a parent. You are essentially working yourself out of a job here. Life is shared together. Memories are made together. Look for the good in your teenager. It’s probably pretty easy to find.
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Penny R
Penny is a fun loving daughter of the King! She lives in Florida with her husband of 20 years. She has 3 children, one of which has autism. They homeschool often at the beach or Walt Disney World depending on her mood that day.
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Oh, I love this! I have so much fear of the teenage season (our eldest is nine), and it’s nice to see a mum ahead of me saying positive things about the teen years. Thank you.
Oh yes! Teenagers are loads of fun! Please be encouraged that it will be a delightful season of child rearing.
I appreciate this little post. I’ve never been one to say a ‘curse’ over my child such as ‘terrible twos’ or ‘rebellious teens’. Yes, each stage has it’s struggles, but so many more delights! My oldest is 14 and we have the sweetest relationship. And I know it will just get better. It is refreshing to read a positive post on raising teens. Thank you.