Parenting is hard, and it’s tougher when your kids struggle. This is likely their and your first time dealing with such a situation, so you need to keep learning to help you make good choices on what to do. Some parents wait too late to act but know that doing nothing may be the worst thing you can do.
The way you connect with your kids helps them or hurts them, especially in a crisis. Communication is a critical part of your relationship, and your role in that is within your control. If you live out a good example and encourage positive connections for your kids, it can make a huge difference.
If you feel something bad is going on with your kids, you’re probably right. It’s critical to understand the situation to help you make wise decisions. That takes time and energy, and it calls for empathy and wisdom. Because you never want to say, “We didn’t know their situation was that serious.”
Parents and care givers must understand that harmful issues such as substance abuse or mental health can happen to any kid in any family, and no parent ever wants to say, “We didn’t think it could happen to us.” If you’re facing or fearing a crisis, it’s time to take action. Now!
Parents are given an assignment—for a time—to raise their kids to the best of their ability. Being a good steward of that God-given role includes putting a thoughtful plan in place, learning and adjusting the plan as needed, and getting help along the way. Then, praying for God’s strength every day.
It’s critical to coach and guide your kids as they grow up, and that includes during the sometimes-risky teenage years. Their lives and well-being are too important to ignore this God-given responsibility. We are all asked to “go and make disciples,” and the best place to start is with your kids.
All of us need community, and this especially includes teenagers. Young people desperately want to fit in somewhere they feel they belong. Otherwise, they will look for connection—sometimes in unhealthy places—or turn to isolation instead. Parents can provide a sense of belonging in the family and model how their kids can develop healthy community with others as well.
As your kids go through the pre-teen and teenage years, they will face temptations that can lead them into dangerous situations. Are they ready to resist those temptations? You also need to be aware of dangers your kids may face, so you can be ready to help protect them.
Being a parent is a wonderful calling that positions you to make an impact on your kids’ lives and leave a legacy with future generations. It is one of the most important things you will ever do, which means it is your responsibility to become the best parent you can be.
The STEPS mission is to deliver practical resources for hurting people to find help, healing, and hope. But rather than use the term “hurting people” in the title of this… Read More »Help, Healing, and Hope for All of Us