Teens

If you’re thinking about getting your kid a smartphone this Christmas - or anytime - here are five things you should consider...

On the hit show “This is Us,” legacy is a big theme. It’s not mentioned directly, but many of the characters are dealing with it. If you aren't familiar with the show, Jack Pearson dies in a house fire, leaving behind his three teenage children. Much of the show is the current day, revealing bits and pieces of the storylines in scenes from the past. All three children—two biological and one adopted— are chasing after or otherwise dealing with the legacy of their hero father. Jack Pearson always seemed to have the perfect words to redeem any moment. He always knew exactly what to do and how to respond to any situation. His kids were left with an image of a pretty infallible man—a legacy they each have challenges living up to.The show strikes a chord with many viewers because the characters seem so real. They could be any of us, which is why the show is aptly titled. We can relate to these characters; we deal a lot with legacies ourselves.Our parents have left their imprint on us, and we are leaving ours on our children. We will all leave a legacy, good or bad. Unfortunately, by the time the legacy is written, we no longer have the power to make any edits to the storyline. Now is the time to take inventory of the legacy we are writing for our children. What will they remember about us? What are we teaching them today that will make an impact on them tomorrow? Here are 10 legacies I believe fathers can—and should—pass on to their sons.Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Klaus Vedfelt

“Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them-not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” 1 Peter 5:2-3That happened fast, didn’t it? Suddenly a privilege of teenage life has drifted down to the tweens, who are even less equipped to deal with the pressures and addictive nature of screen-time and texting. A quick skim through a group of questions meant to unveil an addiction to screen time reveal behaviors many tween parents struggle with on a daily basis. “Does your child become listless, tearful, irritable or even aggressive when they can’t use a screen device?” Sound a little over the top? Any parent who has tried to de-device their tween child knows exactly what this is referring to.Beyond the facade that we are cramping their techie style, children are not always willing, nor do they know how, to admit when group texts have left them feeling exposed and uncomfortable. Tweens need limits and boundaries age-appropriate to their developmental stage, screen time included.We as parents and guardians have the opportunity to address“now or never” questions and engage in character-building conversations while they are still listening. Here are 4 ways to parent your texting tweens.Photo Credit:© Getty Images/disquis

“And Mom, for my eighteenth birthday...”The rest of my daughter’s sentence sounded like an adult in a Charlie Brown special. Anna spoke clearly enough, but I focused on the impending reality of those last four words.“Mom? Mom!”I looked up at my daughter. “I’m sorry...what? What were you saying?”She shook her head and her eyes narrowed. “You weren’t listening, were you?”Anna, like many young women, was a self-proclaimed daddy’s girl. Throughout her life, he’d been the go-to parent for her. “I’m just like Dad,” she would explain. “Besides, Nathan is your favorite anyway.”Ouch. I didn’t want to be accused of playing favorites. With my husband’s recent death, I held both my children closer than ever. How could I improve my relationship with my adult daughter and point her to Christ?A List of AdviceWhen my daughter, Anna, was a senior in college, I asked her to make me a list of things a mother needs to know about her adult daughter. She and her friends crowded around a lunch table, and with notebook pad in hand, Anna scribbled down their replies. Here is what they had to say.

Many of us are used to walking in a world that seems to go against Christian values in so many ways. Popular music flaunts promiscuity and alcohol abuse like it’s a perfectly acceptable way of life.Violent video games are the norm, and consumerism and materialism are on the rise. Even so-called family-friendly television shows or movies feature self-absorbed characters who use foul language.For Christian parents trying to raise their children right in the world, it can feel like a battleground. Some parents attempt to shield their children completely from the secular world, enrolling them in private academies or homeschools and locking down all outside sources.Others pray fiercely over their kids daily before sending them out into what can feel like an anti-Christian minefield.Jesus understood how difficult it can be for those who belong to the Lord to walk in the world. He said time and again that believers are not immune from suffering and, indeed, will likely face persecution and hatred because of their godly beliefs.As he said in Matthew 7:13-14, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”If you’re a parent, the good news is there are a number of things you can do to raise your children in a way that honors God, and you can do this without walling them off from the world.Here are nine ways to protect your kids from things that secular culture sneaks in.Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/shironosov

1. In our house, Christmas is about Jesus. That first. The rest follows. 2. The stuff goes away. Relationships do not.

Do you remember the days when your child’s face lit up at the sight of you? Here are 3 reasons that it's actually healthy for you to not be your kid's favorite person anymore.

There are days parenting can be frustrating. And I’ve had those moments when I’ve wanted to pull my hair out. But I am so thankful to be a mom.

So, grab a cup of coffee, and join me as we take our weary hearts before the Lord. Because, dear friend, prayer must be our first response as we earnestly seek guidance and wisdom while raising wayward teens.

Terrible twos. Turbulent Teens. We laughingly use these terms to describe different stages of growth in our kids. At the same time, they can also create a wedge of fear in our hearts. The twos, like the teens, are periods of time when our child reaches for more independence, which can lead to conflict between parents and teens. Parenting teens is a joy and a privilege. We get the enormous honor of shepherding our kiddos through their final development stage to adulthood. If you’re weary, scared, or unsure of whether you still have a voice in your teen’s life, let me reassure you, you are needed.Here are seven ways your teen still needs your presence.Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Drazen Zigic

When my daughter became a teenager, I often felt overwhelmed and ill-prepared. She wrestled with problems I had no solutions for and experienced hurts I felt powerless to protect her from. Standing on the other side of those tumultuous years, however, I’ve realized God isn’t asking us to shield our teens from this chaotic and often painful world. Rather, He wants us to build within them the resiliency that will allow them to stand strong, no matter what comes.Here are 5 things all teens need in order to mature into healthy, thriving adults.Photo Credit: © Getty Images/Valua Vitaly

They are braver than you know. They are capable of doing hard things. Yes, they most certainly will make choices that break your heart. But choose to extend grace and forgiveness. Give them space to mess up and grow through it.

Sometimes, it's the simplest activities that create the most impactful memories—and not just memories but opportunities to build relationships and trust with your teen. So, this Autumn? Be deliberate. Plan time to be with your kids. Cancel other activities that may not be as important, and set your teenager on the pedestal of priority.

What good can it possibly be to have a difficult child? Or a teen who struggles with sin? Or a child who rebels against you? God causes all things—even a teenager’s sin—to work together for our good. Here are 5 ways...

In 30 years of speaking on the topic of sexual purity to youth and college groups, the question, “How far is too far?” is most asked by kids raised in Christian homes.The task of taking your teen from looking for ways to go as far as they can with the person to whom they're attracted, to helping them understand the value of sexual purity, is not for the faint of heart. The struggle is real. But dear parent, it’s worth it!To help, let’s visit ten things to tell your kids about sex: