Let’s Look: Managing Teenage Life

Every month I join other bloggers (Shay and Erika) and write about the same topic. This month is Let’s Look: managing teenage life.

Listen I am only a month into this parenting a teenager life. And my teenager is Bennett. Bennett has always been my easy kid. He just listens and is patient. I’m not sure where he came from or how we did it. Our younger two are more like their mom and dad, if you are picking up what I’m laying down.

Nevertheless, I will share a few things that are nonnegotiable in how we parent our teenager!

1. Always keep them fed.

Nobody wants a hungry teen on their hands. Benny is eating more than ever, x2, right now. I find that if I keep him fed, he is pretty pleasant to be around.

2. Up the freedom.

Benny is our first born, so I catch myself being slow to let loose of the reigns a bit. Benny has given us no reason not to trust him. We are both giving him a bit more freedom and opportunities to figure it out.

3. Take them to church.

Benny goes to middle school church. Even if his friends aren’t there that weekend, he goes to church. I never want him to get out of that groove. I love that Benny is comfortable going on his own to middle school church service. 

4. Spoil their friends.

I have always said that I always buy peoples love if I can. I want his friends to know us, trust us, like us, and feel loved by us. Benny has wonderful friends with wonderful families. That is such an enormous blessing from God and I want to nurture and protect that. So, if they love when I pack a dozen cookies for the lunch table, I’ll continue doing so!

5. Talk, Talk, Talk

I never want it to be awkward talking to my teenager. I want the lines of communications open on every single level and topic. I want to be a good listener first. I also pray that God gives me the words in how to respond to whatever topic is brought up. 

6. Let them be kids as long as possible.

They have their whole adult lives to be grown ups. I want to continue to nurture the childhood of my teenager. They can still play outside, pick out the boardgame, dance and sing in the car, and just feel safe being a kid!

I am going to wrap it up with that last one. Honestly, I have no idea what I’m doing most of the time when parenting. I am constantly praying and talking with God to guide me and correct me. Parenting is so hard. I often let it get the best of me. I am so thankful that my kids are so forgiving and love me despite my failures. No one is perfect, no kid or teenager is perfect, no life is perfect. God does a really cool thing with our shortcomings. If you ask him, open your heart, humble yourself; God will make you complete. He will fill in all your gaps in parenting and life. He has no weakness or shortcomings. Use Him!

Love y’all! Have a great day. Sign up for an email notification to know when the next blog post goes live on Kari Miller Blog.