Teens

Mark Twain once said that children are “a blessing and an inestimable bother”.

Children in their teens are growing and developing spiritually, physically and socially at such a rate that it sometimes feels overwhelming to parents! On the days, teens are more of a ‘bother’ than a ‘blessing’, it’s important to remember that God is your co-parent and good parenting skills combined with prayer have sustained millions of parents through this important developmental passage!

Helping an adolescent knows right from wrong, become self-disciplined, and appreciate and use his or her gifts are all part of the challenge of the teen years. Your love and patience with your children will communicate God’s love to them and that, along with giving good example of what you are teaching, is essential. No parent can do this alone!

Finding the balance between establishing firm limits and helping them make good decisions for themselves is no easy task! The resources in this section of PARENTLINK are designed to help you find answers to your questions about parenting teens and provide support for as you parent through these important years! Some of these resources also help to address the stress placed on a marriage during the teen years. For more resources on marriage, contact the Family Life Office.

“Parenthood is indeed a Christian call and responsibility. It is the experience of acting as God’s instruments in giving life to sons and daughters in various ways; but equally, it’s an experience of being formed by God through your children.” Follow the Way of Love. USCCB, 1993