HOPE FOR THE HOME: Choices during teenage years

Follow-Up Reflection: Over the past two weeks, we have considered the choices couples make at the beginning of marriage and during the brief, formative years of childhood, should they choose to enlarge their family. This week, we continue that conversation by focusing on the ongoing choices dads and moms make when their children enter the labyrinth of teenage years.

Jerry: Perhaps at no other stage in life are we faced with so many choices as during that period known as the teenage years. Your teenager will face selections and options which appear to loom larger than Mt. Everest. One of the major challenges is how to deal with peer pressure. This is a powerful force, which influences your teens’ behavior and affects everyone in the home. Teaching your teens self-confidence and how to stand up to negative, destructive influences is a priority in today’s culture. Let me suggest you take them verse by verse through the book of Proverbs, especially the first seven chapters. Continue returning to this wisdom consistently for as long as they are under your roof. More importantly, have a time of Bible reading with your entire family each night as you close out the day. A second choice facing the teenage years is learning how to navigate academic pressure. Exams, grades, and future goals can feel overwhelming, so teens need guidance in developing healthy study habits, managing stress, and receiving steady encouragement along the way.

Becky: Parents, we cannot emphasize enough the influence social media has on your teens. When teens compare themselves to their friends or to idealized images of how they think they should look, act, or live, they can easily begin to feel inadequate, discouraged, or depressed. Learning to set healthy boundaries and helping them focus on their God-given worth are key steps toward reducing these negative effects. Recognizing your teens’ talents, abilities, and skills—and then guiding them toward their full potential—can bring rewards that last a lifetime. As your teens mature and become more independent open communication with them is the key to their hearts.

Jerry: Dad and Mom, do you remember the first time you met that special someone and how it made you feel? Your teen, or teens will experience many of those same emotions when they begin to notice someone special. The thrill of a first crush or the ache of a first breakup can swing between excitement and extreme emotional pain. Be ready to listen and share about responsibility, respect, and the difference between infatuation and love. Share with them what the scriptures teach about temptations and how to experience victory rather than defeat. A few moments of self-pleasure can lead to a lifetime of regret. Remind them frequently that every choice has a consequence.

These are only a few of the fundamental challenges every teen will face. Their choices become clearer when they have parents who consistently model the wisdom, character, and conduct they hope to see in their children.

Jerry and his wife Becky are on American Family Radio weekdays at 4:20 PM (CT) and on Sundays at 5:35 PM (CT). Check out their resources for the family at HopefortheHome.org. Becky’s latest book, “The Bright Side of Blue” and Dr. Drace’s, “44 Ways to Strengthen Your Marriage” offer biblical principles and timely advice for dealing with the challenges and trials of life. You may order these and other resources by contacting them at: hopeforthehome@juno.com.