Thanks Jacqui. Sorry it’s taken me so long to get back to my blog and respond…life has been a little overwhelming.

I agree. Some children are more easily followers while some are leaders…but the funny thing is that I’ve noticed that it isn’t as cut & dried as many would have us believe. We always sensed that our Miss A was a natural leader yet she was easily given to peer pressure when she was younger. Oh boy, was I on my knees with her A LOT when she was younger. However now, she is very much developing into a natural (God-given) leader in most areas that she is involved in. She doesn’t try to lead- certainly not! But it’s just a character thing.

Miss R, OTOH, as a youngster was very strong willed and one would not have had reason to believe that she would get sucked into peer pressure. WRONG! None of this parenting stuff can be summed up in neat little cliques. It has to be about relationship…and free will. Free will is also a part of it, although if one talks to many Christian homeschoolers one wouldn’t think so eh?

How old is your son that is attracted to spending time with the ‘naught’ boys?

One type are youth – young adults who are growing, developing, maturing and the second type is:

the teenager.

Both my 18yodd and 14yods see this term ‘teen’ as an insult and have no desire to labeled as one. 😉

Being a relatively modern term, I used to try to NOT use it at all…but it was just too hard. Now, I’ve simply clarified it in my mind and speech so my children firmly understand what I mean. I have taught them that the whole teen scene (expectations of teens, etc) are a fairly new phenomenon and one not to be proud of.

However, despite a parents best intentions and teachings, sometimes, things go wrong.

While I live in hope (that they will stay sweet, lovely ones) I kind of watch the oldest one as if one day she will wake up and turn into….. a teenager! I don’t feel ready…

(mind, with four girls, you’d think any time soon would be a good time to form an opinion… )

{eh! remembered to tick the box 😉 }

Hi Amanda,
Thanks for stopping by! Actually, from personal experience I can say, sadly, that if they cannot/ will not come to us then they WILL go to someone else- and that someone else is not really likely to be the most godly person. 🙁 Yes, heart to hear parenting is different with boys and girls…but the essence (or gist 😉 ) of the message is the same.

Thanks all for your comments. I had hoped I didn’t sound like I was telling others what they should do, as if I had somehow arrived…because NOTHING could be further from the truth. As a parent I have failed and it is only by my heart’s desire and the grace of God that I have a relationship with my children. Dear mothers’, talk WITH your children. Listen to your children, play with them. Laugh with them and work with them…but listen to them. Don’t be too quick to offer correction to everything they may verbalise that doesn’t sit right with you. Keep a light heart and don’t bury the children with condemnation. Tell them God’s word…tell them of His wrath, His judgments but tell them of His grace and mercy.

Hi Jacqui,
Yeah I believe there is balance somewhere but it eludes me most times. 😉 I believe the balance is in the wisdom of God and in following *His* direction and dying to self, instead of following our own ‘wisdom’ or a book or a blog post ;D However, at times it’s easier said than done because we are not only dealing with our own self, ego, pride and weaknesses but also with another human!

I have a very tumultuous relationship with one of my daughters and we are not best friends- not at all. (If she had it her way, I wouldn’t be in her life at all but that’s another story) yet my other daughter and I have a good relationship. I guess it isn’t about hard and fast rules where ‘one size fits all’. That’s where the daily, hourly leaning on God comes in. Oh God, give me strength…Lord, give me your wisdom, your grace, your patience.

Thanks for sharing,