Paws to Consider: Choosing The Right Dog For You And Your Family I’m Counting to 10 … Hope and Humor for Frazzled Parents How to Have a Happy Marriage When You’re Busy Being Parents What Our Words and Actions are Really Telling Our Children Ten Talks Parents Must Have With Their Children About Drugs and Choices Laughter is the Best MedicineHeart Murmurs Giving Your Heart a Scare? Children and Anger When Should My Child Brush His Own Teeth? Raising Responsible Children Standing Up for Your Child Reading to your Baby Parents and Discipline Potty Training on Vacation Eating Healthy for Your Kids 60 One-Minute Family-Builders 60 One-Minute Memory Makers Understanding Teenage Depression |  |
 |
|
Suddenly They’re 13 or The Art of Hugging a Cactus A Parent’s Survival Guide for the Adolescent Years Relate Once your plan of release is in place you need to look at some of the major obstacles that block communication between you and your children. What issues cause sparks to fly in your home? Curfews, hairstyles, homework, bedrooms, music, television, videos, clothes, makeup? You need to ask yourself, "What areas are really important? How my kids dress? The music they listen to? Their religious beliefs? The ability to withstand peer pressure? To stay away from drugs, drinking, premarital sex?" We will tell you real-life stories and principles to help you answer the important question: "What will be the major and the minor issues at our house?" Finally, you’ll need to ask yourself another question: "Do the major issues coincide with what I am saying to my children every day, or am I spending so much time trying to perfect the surfaces of my children, that I am sending mixed and muddled messages about what’s really important?" Relax It’s hard to relax when you feel responsible for things you can’t control. During the adolescent years we often prayed the serenity prayer: "Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference." One dad used to stare at that motto, which was written on the wall of the undercroft of his church. He knew it was true, but he didn’t want to admit that there were things in his life he could not control. Finally, he realized that so many things in his life were out of control that he had to take the leap of faith. We’ll be looking at just what we can influence in our adolescents’ lives and how to relax and trust God for what we can’t control. Challenge If you are really serious about developing a relationship with your adolescents that will weather the teenage storms and last for a lifetime, begin here! Think about your own adolescents. Is there something you already know you can do to improve your relationship?
| ||
 | ||
