6 Tips for Navigating Your Teen's Dating Relationships
This week on Wire Talk Sunny and I talked at length and answered your questions on teenagers and dating.
For some of you (the ones still up nursing at night or driving your kids to basketball practice) this may seem light years away, but many of you are in the thick of this right now and I’m sure it came faster than you thought it would!
Here are 6 tips for navigating the wild world of teenage dating:
Create a safe environment for your teenager to open up.
Obviously this can start when they are little! Are you a good listener or are you quick to jump in with an opinion when your child is talking to you? Do you REALLY listen, or are you frequently distracted by your phone, your laptop, or your household tasks when your child is around?
Give the guidelines and rules of dating before they are needed.
Set expectations early on, so that when they start dating everyone knows what to expect.
Ask your child what they are looking in a future spouse.
Use their own desires to help guide them along the way as they enter into relationships. Asking good questions often works better than lecturing, i.e. What do you like about him/her? Do you think she treats you respectfully? Do your friends like her? Does he honor his parents well?
Let your child open up in their own timing, not yours.
Always be ready to listen. Teens have a way of wanting to talk when you can barely keep your eyes open. But you don’t always have to have deep conversations, just keep the dialogue open.
Always remind your child that you are for them, love them, and want the best for them.
This is especially important when you are giving unwanted advice.
Pray!
Last but certainly not least, pray for your teenager! Pray for their protection, for God to grant them wisdom and discernment, and for them to know who they are in Christ.
Moms, now more than ever, your teen needs a parent who wants God’s best for them. Stay involved in your teen’s life.