Parents of Teens Saturday

“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” (Galatians 6:9, NLT)

I believe this verse very well could have been written for parents of older teens. It can be completely exasperating and exhausting trying to raise them to become good and productive adults.

I’ve often said a child is moldable until they are 12. After that it requires a chisel and a hammer. Sadly many parents stop parenting at this point. After all, their children have reached the main milestones and are now be self-sufficient in many areas of life. The realization that they simply don’t need us like they did when they were little can be liberating and heartbreaking at the same time.

The enemy uses our weariness and feeling of not being needed to cause us to think our job of parenting a teen is not important. When we believe this lie, it is easy to leave our children to raise themselves, or at the least, become more hands-off in our parenting.

Our job is to not give up after the molding is done. Take up the chisel and hammer and continue to parent your child. You will reap the reward for not giving up even though you become weary.

Prayer:
Dear Lord, parenting teens is hard work. Give me the strength to not give up on my parenting role too soon. Show me how to use the hammer and chisel in a way to help guide my child into adulthood. Forgive me where I have released my child to raise him or herself. Open my eyes and help me see that they still need me. Give me the strength to finish this parenting season well as I look forward to the reward of my child becoming a productive member of society, a person who loves You and maintains a good relationship with me. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Tammy

​