Teenage boys should be encouraged…Even pushed–to try new things, to take some risks, to find adventure. Within those boundaries, teenage boys need the opportunity to stretch their wings. Make them clear and consistent, and have absolute consequences in place for when they break rules. They may resist rules, but deep down they feel safe when there are clear-cut rules without exceptions. Our boys need to know what is absolutely ok, and what is absolutely not.

Sometimes our greatest job as Mom is to act like we don’t even notice. Some days they just need to figure out what feels right. How they walk, talk or what they’re into. It happens almost every day, and sometimes many times a day: Teenagers are always changing. So, what’s my role as Mom? How can I help the most?īetween conversations with other moms, plenty of books on the subject, and talking to my boys directly, I have come up with what I think are the eleven most important things…ġ. :)) He won’t forget these years, and neither will I. But these days…these teenage years: They’re short! Today my son becomes a teenager, and tomorrow he’ll be packing for college (God willing. God only knows I’ve messed up enough in every other stage, and I only hope they can forget about my mistakes. So…I’ve been thinking a lot about these years–and how I can be the mom they need right now. Now that my boys are developing into young-version human beings…It’s all making sense. I mean, I love my kids at every stage, but certainly some years nearly killed me. I feel like I finally understand why I had to go through the baby and toddler years: This is the reward. Slow down boys–I gave birth to you yesterday.īut really–I dig this stage.

Next Saturday, Josiah will swagger his way into fifteen. Over the next week, two of my boys have birthdays that end in “teen.” Today, Jonah stepped fresh and eager into thirteen.

Monica why i love you so much what year