Teenagers are Smart...

Yes, I typed that title correctly. :) In the past 24 hrs I have heard two stories of teens that have done extraordinary things! A 16 year old in California has done a Science experiment curing cancer and has found it successful in removing tumors in mice. And just this morning on the news- two teens in Canada made a lego man and attached a camera to it and sent it up- it cleared earths atmosphere and made it into space! Amazing stuff!

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-57358994/calif-hs-student-devises-possible-cancer-cure/

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/brainiac/2012/01/putting_a_lego.html

So you might say- well these two are exceptions to the norm...I would still disagree. I have two teens under my own roof right now and I think they are incredibly smart...sometimes even for their own good. haha They have insight and view points that help expand mine at times and I love learning things from them. There is many things a teen balances- at a time of life that balance is not at all what they want to be doing.

I have also realized recently- there has been a lot more correcting going on for neccessary reasons. I was sharing with a friend who has younger children and she reminded me of something that we can forget to do in the season of teenagers...give positive encouragement!! We can get caught up in the typical battles that come with the teen years and get in a cycle of nagging or arguing and we as parents need to recognize this (or have a good friend help us in that) and step out of the picture long enough to assess things. My dad always said- when you are going to talk about bad news with someone (discipline to the teen is bad news)- start with something positive, hit em with the news, and end with something else positive- it helps the defensiveness not be as bad and you are living out a good motto- "the positive sandwich"- it was good advice!!

I love that we can learn something from everyone and our teens are no exception! They are full of "smarticle" things for us to glean. And maybe...just maybe...if they see us look at them in that light- they may strive more for wisdom over folly and that is a win-win! Don't you agree??

Teenagers...

I love my teenagers! Even before they reached "teen age" I was preparing my mind to see this time as fun and enjoyable (not that all of it would be- what stage of life is). I recommend two book that I have found so helpful for this season of life: Age of Opportunity , by Paul David Tripp- the title alone is a draw to me!! and the second I have just picked up this passed year- Boundaries with Teens, by John Townsend. The first book I have read through a few times and refer to when I need reminded of things.

Well this week, we were presented another teachable moment. One of my girls, lied to me and so we have had to deal with the consequences of a poor decision. It has been a week of heart ache on both parts and tears- again on both parts. So discipline has been dealt out and life moves forward. As a mom, we hope the lesson is learned, but only time will tell. These are wonderful opportunities to show grace and mercy to our children. We can show them unconditional love. It is hard sometimes to see passed our own frustration and to be the way we need to be for them, in the moment it matters most.

So it has been a tough week parenting a teen, but I am so excited watching my girls grow and learn through the ups and downs of life. I am so very proud of the little ladies they are turning into...I just wish they would slow it down a bit! Here are my three sweet children: