“Teenagers” Who Stay
Posted By Jacque Dixon on July 28, 2009 in Categories: Home Schooling, In the Way They Should Go, Mothering, Tying Heartstrings, Training Children
My friend, Penny Raine, wrote a post with a list of ways to keep your children’s hearts throughout their youth and young adulthood.
I agree with all Penny had to say about keeping their hearts home. That is a main theme here at Training Daughters and also at Training Sons.It is just a necessary practice for all families if you hope to keep your children’s hearts home and not seeking in every other relationship or habit to find what they need from home. Train them in the Word and take every opportunity to tie those heartstrings that are open to become attached to anything else is something we Mommas need to make time for.
It is a heart-breaking thing for the whole family when one heart is not fully at home, so prevention is best for the whole family.
There are several on her list we walk in, the first being We don’t call them teenagers.
“The word teenager is a social term, it doesn’t mean an age group, it means a cultural group. It reminds us of rebellion and peer pressure and no respect for parents, immoral activity, drugs, sex and rock and roll, reckless driving and being “cool” at all costs.“
My favourite comment advice is this:
“Even when what they are telling you is not what you might enjoy hearing….breathe and/or go for a walk then return. Whatever you do….do not cut them off before they have finished sharing and/or become irrational or judgmental.“
This is VERY good advice, and something I am still learning with my older girls. It is a hard balance between their youth and adulthood. Allowing them to be heard IS tough sometimes, and should never cross into a rebellious or disrespectful attitude, but let them be heard.
Be sure to check out Penny’s post, how NOT to have backslidden teenagers. It will give you great information, courage to do what is necessary and confidence to go on if you are already walking that path!
blessings
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About the author
Jacque Dixon
Mrs. Jacque Dixon and her husband, Matt, have graduated two of their nine children and are continuing home schooling those remaining at home. They have just moved from their small homestead in Indiana and have stopped off in Costa Rica to walk in the ways YHVH has for them at this time. They are the founders of Gleaning the Harvest, presenting widows and fatherless to the Body of Believers for support. She is owner and publisher of Training Sons to Be Men, and Training Daughters, Teaching Wives, where she is a regular columnist. You can also read encouraging home school articles and more about the Dixon family at Walking Therein.Comments
3 Responses to ““Teenagers” Who Stay”
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I loved Penny’s article you linked, but it doesn’t include the details and quotes you have above. Is there a more detailed article that I’m missing? Thanks!
[Reply]
July 29th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
No, Tammy, that is the right article. The quote about teenagers is in the article, from Penny.
The quote about listening to them is in the comments, from Dorothy.
http://pennyraine.com/blog/2009/07/how-not-to-have-backslidden-teenagers/comment-page-1/#comment-5584
It really is a great article, isn’t it?
Thanks for your comment and reading TDTW.
blessings, Jacque
[Reply]
We’ve just begun a big challenge of earning the heart of our new daughter, the 14 yr old we’re adopting. It’s hard not having those 14 years of time and conversations to build on. It’s requiring a whole lot of prayer & dependence on the Lord.
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