How to Persevere in Love When Parenting Teenagers

My daughter turned 13. We were already experiencing her gradual desire for more independence. But, are we the only parents who have experienced what seems to be a drastic change once the teen years officially began?

We’d heard about the challenges that come with having a teen in your house, but we never paid too much attention to those “warnings.” Well, if you have a young child, pay attention to what you’re reading here, and get ready!

I admit as we have entered this season, I have been a little testy and reactive. I’m working on not reacting, but responding with love to the way my daughter expresses her desire to be treated differently.

Your love for your child will be tested too. When they are young, it is easier to help and not be so frustrated by their behavior. But it has become a challenge to do the same as our daughter has grown.

You may be faced with the same challenge, but I encourage you to persevere in your parenting with love. If you are having trouble doing so now, or think you will in the future, take heart and persevere with love as a dad.

Remember, All Pro Dads love and lead their families in every season, even the challenging teenage years. Watch this video, The Love of a Father, and see how one dad remembered this only after a tragic accident.

Today we talked about how you can persevere in parenting. Be sure to check back tomorrow when we’ll talk about how your kids can practice perseverance.

Huddle up with your kids tonight and say: “We may not always see eye to eye, but none of that will change my love for you and I hope the same goes for you.”

All Pro Dad is Family First’s innovative and unique program for every father. Their aim is to interlock the hearts of the fathers with their children and, as a byproduct, the hearts of the children with their dads. At AllProDad.com, dads in any stage of fatherhood can find helpful resources to aid in their parenting. Resources include daily emails, blogs, Top 10 lists, articles, printable tools, videos and eBooks. From AllProDad.com, fathers can join the highly engaged All Pro Dad social media communities on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.