Train up a child..

Celebrate Your Teen

Aren’t babies cute? They are so sweet and snuggly. We plan a beautiful nursery for them and make sure they have all they need for comfort. When one year is up, they get a birthday party. The same thing happens at the end of the second year. We make over them and dream about what they will become as they grow up. Much of what we do for them they do not understand and cannot appreciate. That first year birthday cake usually ends up smeared all over the baby’s face!
One day those babies become teens. Do we make over them? Do we brag about them? Do we do all we can to make sure they are comfortable and have all their needs met? Or, do we slow down on what we do for them and perhaps even turn our backs on them just hoping they will get through this time?
Why is it that when our children are babies, we spend lots of time and attention on them and yet, when they are teens when they need it the most, we do not spend so much effort on them? Am I wrong? Does our society, as a whole, pay attention to teens as we should?
Many teens are hurting. They need us, yet many people would like to leave the care of teens to someone else. “Let the school worry about them!” “Let the youth director at church keep them busy and teach them!”
We need to seize every opportunity to give teens recognition for the good things each may do. Some teens do wonderful things, although there may be times when they really “goof up”. If we are quick to notice the good and give praise, we are helping to build a bridge to take them through the “not so good” times. We definitely should not give praise unless it is deserved, but let’s not miss an opportunity to give it when it really is deserved.
Spend time with your teen. Do things with teens. Go for a coke or hamburger with just the two of you. There is something about riding in a car that stimulates a teen to open up and talk. Respect the fact that the problems your teen has are as big or bigger than yours in their eyes. Understand that teens do have real problems. Never belittle them or their problems. Show the same respect for your teen as for any other adult. Even though it is tempting to laugh at some of the problems you hear from your teen, don’t do it. Keep in mind that teens have not finished growing up and may not yet know how to explain things so we can understand. They do not always say what they mean nor mean what they say. They tend to take risks because their brains are not fully developed in the area that controls cautiousness, but also, because they do not yet know all the facts about situations. Be patient with them.
Teens don’t need added pressure. They have enough. They need someone to walk through this difficult time of transition from childhood to adulthood. Be happy for the gift from God of this teenage son or daughter and celebrate the good parts of their lives with them.