Comments on: Tackling the Teenage Crisis: Helping Parents Survive Adolescent Rebellion

By: Doris

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:31:21 +0000

You are so wise Theresa! ‘Creative planning’…I like that! Trust is such an important factor in dealing with teens. If they know that you love them and will be there for them regardless of everything else, they are more willing to listen and abide by the guidelines you set. Remember too that you are family for life, so it is well worth working through the issues to that in the end you have a good relationship once they are adults.

By: Theresa

Theresa — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 22:05:04 +0000

I have read some wonderful messages here, and have been reminded of some helpful strategies for remaining in the same world with our kids. The answers are all within our Faith in God…rely on it, our limitless Love for them and each other…remind them of just how big that is, and honesty…practice it everyday with them. With these you can build the trust necessary to get through these difficult years. We can be certain that there is no way through life without going through these years. May we use our God given and driven resources to make memories to share with a smile in the future. I have always tried to remember that I was there once upon a time! (They have a hard time believing that part) But we don’t ..name if honest with ourselves, we’ll all remember some “creative planning ” on our own part during *aDOLescEnCE*!

By: Jamie

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:42:15 +0000

Ogeyi, that is more difficult. It is going to take time and effort on your part. Initiate conversation and relationship. Honestly share about yourself and your feelings. Celebrate togetherness; when you do something together make extended effort to make that special and memorable. Go out of your comfort zone to enter into his/her world. Be vulnerable there so that he/she can see that you value him/her.

Pray! God will show you how to reach across those barriers with love!

By: Jamie

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:37:28 +0000

Elena,if your daughter got permission from her dad then your issue is not with her but with him. Don’t bring up the issue with her because she went through the proper channels.

Choose your battles carefully because you know that you only have so much energy. Is it more important that she be respectful to others or that she be piercing free?

By: Ogeyi

Ogeyi — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:02:39 +0000

Yes i completely agree with everything you have said. What i would like to know is how do you get through to a teenager who has built up “walls” around him/herself?

By: Elena

Elena — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:23:06 +0000

Im a single mom with 2 teenage daughters but is my youngest who’s giving me a hard time, she does whatever she wants besides she is unrespectful to everyone in my family, she just came back after spending time with her dad for new years and when I saw her I was shocked because she dyed her her fire red and she had a lip piercing ( she is only 11) well I’m so stress out about this situation because in addition is not just the fact that she did this but also that her dad was aware of the whole situation, as a matter of fact he was the one who have her permission to do it in the first place! I don’t know what to do because I can’t even rely on their dad anymore….

By: Jamie

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:16:23 +0000

I think I would just expand on your great points Ogeyi by saying that your study should most importantly be done through conversation with the child. Open up with them so that you can know them, their fears and hopes, their sorrows and joys. The stronger the relationship between you the less reason they will have to lie–note I did not say they will never lie;)

Let your prayers also be that God would help you to provide a strong model of love and acceptance so that you child will find in you the same safety that you find in Your heavenly Father. “For God did not send Jesus into the world to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:17)

By: Ogeyi

Ogeyi — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:32:35 +0000

PRAY! for the child. Study him/her closely so that you can easily dictect when a lie is about to drop!!! and when he/she learns that you are a hard nut to crack the lies will eventually reduce and your prayers will exterminate the rest.

By: Jamie

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:09:47 +0000

Bindi, you seem to be talking about some personal experience. What kinds of limits would you suggest need to be in place for a teen?

By: Khan

Khan — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 19:35:54 +0000

House culture puts great impact on kids behaviour. When parents fight with each other, drink in front of kids, watch indecent movies and do all sorts of bad things, their children will definitely follow.