It can be really easy to get overwhelmed and frustrated when things aren’t going well. First, you are going to need to have grace for yourself. Your schedule and routines change right along with your teens. They will likely need more of you in some ways. They may be pulling away from you in others. This is normal.
You will need to give them grace, too. Their brains are changing fast and adjusting to a new school year, and new teachers and new people will be tough on them and may not bring out the best in them either. Allow for grace when things don’t go well. Breathe. Give yourself a time-out. Let them take one too. Regroup when you need to. Call a family meeting and talk it out. It is just fine to keep it chill on the weekends if you can, allow them extra downtime, a little extra sleep on the weekends, and maybe even less responsibility around the house for a bit if needed.
In the end, don’t forget to pray. Pray with and for them. Give it to God and remind them that He is there with them every step of the way.
As an educator I see your kids working through their day like champs. As a parent, like you I see them often collapse at my door at the end of that day. Remember you want your home to be a haven for them where they can just be themselves but also where they can grow in independence and use those great skills they are learning about life.
A new school year is a great place to regroup and let your teens find their voices. They are leveling up each year, which is a big deal. Remember, you’ve got this. And when you don’t? All the grace and flexibility for you, too, my friend. And God has got you, too.
Find Amy Betters-Midtvedt’s book You’ll Make It (and They Will Too): Everything No One Talks About When You’re Parenting Teens here!
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A lifeline of hope for parents of teens who feel adrift on the real and raw parenting journey, presented with wisdom and faith—and a touch of candid humor—from seasoned educator, mother, and Today Parenting contributor Amy Betters-Midtvedt.
“Parenting teens doesn’t come with a manual, but this book comes as close to one as I’ve ever read.”—New York Times bestselling author Rachel Macy Stafford.
As a mom with five kids ages twelve to twenty-two living at home, Amy Betters-Midtvedt found that parenting teens challenged everything she thought it meant to be a “good” mom. But in the unraveling came the building of something new and more beautiful than she could have imagined: an incredible sense of love, hope, joy, and relationship—even in the mess.
Related Resource: Exposing the Lost Landscape of Higher Education
In this episode of Christian Parent, Crazy World, Catherine delves into the critical question of how higher education is leading Christian kids away from their faith. Her special guest, David Richardson, brings a unique perspective on the landscape of higher education. With over 32 years of experience working with college and university professors, Dave sheds light on the challenges faced by Christian youth in academic settings. As parents grapple with the decision to send their children to secular institutions, Catherine and Dave offer valuable insights into understanding the challenges faced by Christian youth in higher education. By addressing the disconnect between faith and academia, this episode aims to equip parents with the knowledge and tools to support their children’s faith journey in an increasingly secular world. Listen below! Be sure to subscribe to Christian Parent, Crazy World on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
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