Teens
Raising teenagers can be fill up our lives right up to the brim with so much joy! But they are also a rollercoaster of a puzzle to figure out. These posts are honest reflections on parenting teens—through faith, mistakes, growth, and the everyday moments that shape connection during the messy, but beautiful teen years.
Because I have raised five teenagers, I’ve had lots of time to ponder teenager questions. And have come back to report my findings.
–How to Help Teens Build Self-Confidence
–What if your teens have an attitude?
–How do you get your teens to actually like you?
–Training kids to use technology responsibly
–“Moving to the bleachers” –letting our kids forge their own ways
And so many more posts about being in the thick of teenager-hood. The high school dances and fun. Wishing you joy in the journey of figuring out those teenage puzzles! XOXO
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Tips for Raising Teenage Boys – A Different Perspective
When my son Max turned fifteen, I was caught in that familiar swirl of maternal worry: Will he be motivated? Is he prepared for…
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Tips on Raising Teenagers from “In the Arena”
Teenagers are confusing. And frustrating. And tricky. But they are also pretty dang awesome. Raising teenagers can evoke a wide range of emotions —…
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Letting Go of High School, One Ceremony at a Time
Welp, Lucy graduated yesterday. Which means so did I as a mother of high-school-goers. The business of letting go of high school has been…
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Cousins Make High School Dances Even Better
Lucy went to another high school dance. And this time around I realized that cousins make high school dances even better. But before we…
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The Importance of Good Men
I’ve been thinking lately about the importance of good men. I think our world needs them desperately. OF COURSE we need good, strong women…
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Lucy’s First Dance! – MORP
Well, the long awaited and much hand-wrung-over high school dance has come and gone for Lucy. I talked about some of our emotions swirling…
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Three Ways to Help Teenagers Build a Positive Self-Image
Let’s talk about three ways to help teenagers build a positive self-image. Because when you’re a teenager, especially in this world filled to the…
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Lucy’s First Date: Navigating Teen Dating with Special Needs
Watching your teen go on a first date is emotional for any parent—but when special needs are part of the story, it can feel…
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How to Trust Kids to Figure Out Their Own Paths
With emergent teenagers, one of my always-biggest questions was how to trust kids to figure out their own paths. Just like my fellow mothers,…
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Teaching Kids to Make Good Decisions (Our “Decisions in Advance” Approach)
(Updated in 2026 to add more ideas on helping kids take ownership of their decisions.) Teaching kids to make good decisions is something most…
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another “powderpuff” season in the books
It feels weird to look at these pictures now that the whole school year is all wrapped up. And oh boy I have a…
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one more prom — the official “last dance”
What happens when you have a trip with your recently-returned missionary back to see her mission stomping-grounds and your other daughter gets asked to…
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PROM (smack dab in the middle of Nationals)
Welp, this weekend was one for the record books for us around here. And my heart is so jumbled with all that I want…
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winter formal for Claire!
Another dance has come and gone. This one was squished in between the state football finals (where we WON!!! first time in his high…
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Senior Year Homecoming Date for Claire
Well, Claire’s senior year homecoming date came and went. It just feels so strange as a parent to have yet another child hitting milestones…
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A Summer Abroad for Teens: Claire’s Experience in the Netherlands
Why We Believe in Summer Experiences Abroad for Teens Years ago Dave and I decided (inspired by an idea from Dave’s brother), that we…
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3 Tips for Making Teenagers Like You
The responsibility as a parent becomes so tangible when you have teenagers, as their decisions and friends and actions start to mean so much…
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love first (a teenager offense)
Today I want to talk a bit more about loving teenagers. Unconditionally. Loving Teenagers Before Trying to Fix Them I love this painting by…
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ministering and LOVE on Valentine’s Day
In the wake of Valentine’s Day, I’ve been thinking a lot about teaching teenagers to minister. Minister? You might ask. On Valentine’s Day? But…
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our third child graduated
She did it. Graduation day came much like the other two graduation days we’ve had but the weather was strangely cool, and this time…
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10 Ideas for parenting preteens
Ha! Did that title fool you into thinking that I actually know how to manage roller coasters of emotions? Parenting preteens is a challenge…
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prom day date
Prom is tomorrow. And Grace has been busy figuring out all the details that go with that. Man, I know I’ve mentioned this before,…
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The Tech-Wise Family Book Review – Technology Tips for Teens
Technology is ruining our kids… you may have read my post on this recently! I’ve been pretty worried about how technology is impacting our…
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High School Love and Memories…A Mini Reunion From the Good Old Days
Even now, having three children who have traversed the halls of our giant-sized high school, I sometimes find it strange that so many years…
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5 Tips for Training Kids to Use Technology
As parents, we are trainers in so many ways. In the beginning, we train our children to talk, walk, eat and smile. It’s crucial…
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The Homecoming Dance 2015
We made our travel plans to Switzerland before I realized it coincided with Homecoming. Then I had a little panic attack. And then I…
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Sending a Teenager Abroad: Elle’s Summer Internship Experience
Letting a teenager go abroad, especially across-the-world-kind-of-abroad, is no small thing. The summer after our kids’ junior year of high school, we send them…
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seeking advice on an internship for Elle…and a note from her
Early on in our marriage Dave and I were inspired by a parenting idea from his brother and sis-in-law. (Well, we were inspired by…
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MORP and how much fun teenagers are
In honor of the fact that two of my three teenagers are kicking off their sport seasons this afternoon, I thought I better do…
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5 Tips for Parenting Teens with Attitude
Parenting teenagers is tough enough, but when they start to have an attitude, as most teens do, it makes life even harder. After parenting…
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high schoolers
Sometimes when I look at my children, parenting high schoolers reminds me how quickly they grow up. Time stops. Just for a split second.…
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Friday Q & A — teenagers
I am hoping/praying you will consider devoting a few blog posts to the whole mystery of parenting a teenager. My oldest is 15 and…
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On Teenagers and the “Dance Phase”
I was nervous to have teenagers. All I ever wanted were those cute little newborns and toddlers. All the stars in my eyes about…
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my eagle project
Hi, this is Max. I’m hijacking my mom’s blog today to explain about my Eagle Project that I’m working on right now. We are…
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high school and a reunion
With Max as a freshman and Elle hot on his heels, we are getting a lot more exposure to all the high school hoopla…
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bitter-sweet {from babies to EFY teenagers}
I was emotional thinking about babies and teenagers this summer. (What else is new? And really, who wouldn’t when you have babies like this…
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how to prepare for the foreign land of teenagers
I’ve been thinking a lot recently about how to prepare for the foreign land of teenagers. It is a daunting prospect for most parents…