By Victor Salamba

A Teenager’s World:

  1. Teenagers look for their own identity. They want to establish their own identity and to form their own ideas, apart from their parents.
  2. Teenagers develop their own language and culture. Parents accept that teenagers create their own words, do not seek to know what every word means, or criticize the slang you hear. Do your research separately so you can at least understand the basics.
  3. Teenagers are idealistic. They believe that they can make great changes, with bigger impact than an adult can. Allow them to feel this way and to express themselves. Do not shut them down or kill their positive idealism.
  4. Teenagers are full of energy. Help them to channel this energy into positive activities that will build their skills and character. Provide safe and fun conditions for your teenagers to expend their energy.
  5. Teenagers often rebel and question. They want to know the reason behind everything. Be patient answer honestly as best you can, most importantly again exercise patience.
  6. Teenagers are not risk averse. They like to take chances and this can be stressful to parents when they are dangerous in nature. Remind them that in all they do, good or bad, they are the ones who will bear the full weight of their (in)actions.
  7. Teenagers respect the truth. Give your teenagers truthful answers, again research is key here. Remember that Dr. Google is very much willing and able to provide answers that you will not! So try as much you can to be factually equipped and open. Do not be hypocritical in your approach, they do what they see you do, more than what you tell them to do, in other words live the example you want your teens to be.
  8. Teenagers move as unified peers. They collaborate in adventures with their peers to impress each other and to secure their sense of individualism separate from their parents. Do not criticize the squad, do your best to know your teenagers’ friends and their characters.

Above all, pray for them and be confident in the principles you put in them while they were growing. Proverbs 22:6 Train a child in the way appropriate for him, and when he becomes older, he will not turn from it.
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