Help Your Marriage Thrive While Parenting TeensSample

As you parent through the unknowns of these years, keep in mind that what your child needs most is the same thing you need: Jesus. They don’t need a perfect parent—I mean, that’s not even an option! They need a parent who keeps turning to Jesus and keeps pointing to Him.

When your kid is disrespectful, irresponsible, or making poor choices, it can be embarrassing. It can raise fears like, “are they going to turn out ok?” and “didn’t I teach them better than that?” It can be easy to focus so much on their behaviors and choices they make that you miss their heart. But as we see in Proverbs 4:23, the heart is the root of their actions, and it’s where God’s Spirit goes to work.

As a parent, the ultimate goal is to be a representative of Christ, not of ourselves. The goal isn’t to keep your child believing you are right. You will mess up and fall short at times; so will they. Point them to Jesus, and let them know it’s not a failure to need Jesus; it’s human! As you receive God’s grace daily, you can also share it with your child. Let His truth fill your life, and share his encouragement with your child (Colossians 3:16-17).

You want to still have their heart once they’re grown and gone. You don’t want your child so henpecked in your household that they want to fly the coop ASAP. There are plenty of things you can overlook, and of course, things you definitely shouldn’t! As you speak into your child’s heart, call out the unique giftings God has given them and affirm ways you see them growing and doing well; they will likely be quicker to listen when correction is needed. They will likely be quicker to apologize when they have seen you do the same.