Earning The Respect of Your Teenage Children By David Burrows

 Parents should care for their children.

Scripture states, “…Children are a reward from Him” (Ps. 127:3 NIV). However, in today’s busy and mixed-up society, children are very frequently seen more as a burden than as a treasure. Parents sometimes don’t care about or for their children. Caring does not mean simply providing for their children’s daily needs; it also means teaching them the difference between right and wrong and taking time to see that their concerns are taken care of and their questions about life are answered.

A parent who cares will spend time with his or her children and talk to them about what the children want to talk about. Many teens become distant from their parents because of their parents’ one-way communication with them. Some parents only talk to their children when the children are in trouble or when they failed to carry out an assigned task.

Ask teens about their favorite music group or their favorite basketball team or player. Ask them about school, their friends, and their plans for the future. The more you talk with them, the more you learn about them. Parents must take good care of what God has entrusted to them.

 

Parents are supposed to discipline their children.

The issue of discipline is a big one for both parents and teens. Teenagers know that discipline is a painful part of love, and they actually want to be disciplined. A parent who takes time to correct a young person may not be liked at the moment when the discipline is administered, but he or she will be respected.

The Bible states very clearly that if you ignore discipline, your children will go astray. How many times have you seen a spoiled brat? Worse yet, a rich spoiled brat? No one likes to be around that type of child—discipline gives your children an advantage beyond monetary. Of course, when a child reaches those teen years, the methods of discipline employed by the parents should change.

Younger children often need physical discipline. However, if a child has been under your care for 13 years and does not respond to your discipline, you must not have disciplined properly during the earlier years. In such a case physical punishment is no longer the answer. The revocation of privileges, added chores, stricter curfews, restrictions as to where they can go, or reduced allowances can be used to discipline a teen. Keep in mind that the discipline needs to be appropriate for the given situation.

 

-Kingdom Parenting (Connecting Principles)

Earning The Respect of Your Teenage Children By David Burrows

RELATING TO TEENS BY DAVID BURROWS

How do parents earn the respect of their children and retain the rights inherent in their position?

 Parents should provide for their children.

It is the responsibility of parents to provide for their children. Children do not ask to be born. Whenever children are brought into this world, the parent or parents have the responsibility of providing all the necessities for their children, according to the parents’ abilities to do so. Note what the Bible says concerning this responsibility:
…After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children

(2 Corinthians 12:14 NIV).

Parents should provide food, shelter, and clothing for their children in line with their ability to do so. Parents should not waste money by buying everything their children desire, however. Many times children lack discretion; as a result, they would buy anything they could. After all, they don’t have to work. You should not have children if you are not prepared to provide for them.

 

 Parents should not provoke their children.

Parents should not abuse the authority God gave to them by abusing their children, by failing to provide for them, or by living a life of double standards. “Provoking children” could mean being too restrictive, abusive, or unfair with regard to expectations or living contrary to God’s Word and still expecting children to obey without question. Note again what the Bible says:
Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4 NIV).

Parents should remember that their teens are only a few years away from becoming parents themselves. The teenagers of today will become the parents of tomorrow. Today’s parents must ensure that their way of life does not drive their children in the wrong direction. Rather, their lifestyle should point young people toward the path they want them to follow.

 

-Kingdom Parenting (Connecting Principles)

RELATING TO TEENS BY DAVID BURROWS