Lately I have been feeling like this season is long and hard and whatever I do does not work. I was at Church recently and talking to another mom and she offered me some encouragement to just go home and pray for my teen. She said when your teen is sleeping pray over them for God to protect and guide them. As I was talking to her I said this is hard I feel: Fear, Frustration, guilt, and loneliness. Her advice was read Psalm 91 everyday and just Pray and ask God to help me during this season of Parenting.

Just as in the other seasons of our lives, the season or parenting our teens brings unique challenges and and blessings. It helps to articulate the challenges but choose to focus on the blessings.

During the Teen years, there are many changes happening to them as they transition from childhood to being a teen and the changes their bodies go through.

Emotionally, You have to brace yourself for when your teen wakes up in the morning. Will she be happy or in a funk because she doesn’t have the right clothes to wear or she can’t have what she wants. Mood swings are the norm.

Physically. Your daughter develops too fast quickly and is embarrassed or your son’s voice has not changed while his friend’s voices have already changed.

Socially. It an awkward time for your teen. She wants to fit in with the other girls and be like them and wants to do the same sports they do.

Mentally. Your teen is not a child anymore she wants to aim to get good grades and fit in like all the other girls.

Spiritually. Your teen is questioning. “Why do I believe what I have been taught? Do I really want to go to Church and believe?

Also through this season of Parenting Teens Parents go through a lot of Changes too. Its not easy when your kids were little you were tired Physically now its different in the teenage years your are emotionally exhausted. With little kids discipline was easier they just threw a temper tantrum. Teens today they argue and their arguments seem so much smarter than us. They are always right about everything. They use to like to hug us and spend time with us, Now teens say “You just don’t understand, or you don’t trust me or everyone’s parents let them have iPads, cell phones or go out to the mall or movies with their friends alone or they get to do expensive sports and we are poor and we as parents are not good enough. Then I worry about because my child gets lonely or doesn’t have any friends.

In raising teens there is indeed challenges but also blessings unique to the season or parenting your teen. We begin to see some pay off of the early years of training. Siblings who dislike each other are now moving towards a friendship. My daughter who has been self-centered may start to understand that she needs to help around the house. We start seeing them take responsibilty and we begin to have grown up conversations. We start to enjoy being around our teens because we see they are making progress.

There are five steps that will help us in this season of Parenting to become closer to our teens.

Step 1. Give your teen hope.

As a teenager myself I was very shy in school and I disliked going to school but my mom was always there to encourage me not to give up. My mom would always say I Understand how you feel. Right now my daughter wants and has dreams that I can’t afford and would love to give her the world I understand how she feels and I offer her support and am here everyday to help her and love her and encourage her that there are other hobbies she can pursue. Right now in this season they lack perspective.

Right now your teen is feeling not so good about his or her life. She is in a rot now. Offer her support and just write a note of encouragement to her telling her things will get better for her. Just say over and over again that you love them.

Step 2. Care for their friends.

Right now the most important thing is finding a way to encourage my daughter to go out and enjoy life and find and explore other things like gardening, cooking etc and to try out other things in life. Make your home the hang out where you can control what goes on in your home. Make your home comfortable for your teen where she or he can feel comfortable to bring friends over.

Step 3. Have a clear discipline philosophy.

During this season of parenting you are the parent, not their best friend. As a teen growing up I am thankful that I had both my parents teaching me to take responsibility such as doing chores at home and helping out at home and following the rules. I needed structure growing up because it gave me security cause I was not in charge. Right now your teen needs structure and a schedule to follow everyday help them and be there for them.

Step 4. Expose them to others of faith.

Encourage your teen to get up on Sunday mornings to come to Church don’t give up even if they do not go keep asking them and most important be an example let them see you read the word of God or let them see you praying with your Husband. Let them see you go faithfully to Church every Sunday.

Step 5. Rely on God.

The first Priority your teen should see is you as parents growing in your faith. Make time everyday to be on your knees praying for your teens and be in the word receiving comfort and guidance. Let them see you going to Church and reading the word together and praying about problems instead of fighting or arguing let them see you going to prayer and forgiving each other. Be an example of Jesus love everyday.