510: Am I Ruining My Teenager’s Life?

If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I ruining my teenager’s life?” - you’re not alone. Today, Karen answers questions from moms navigating strong personalities, emotional pushback, and the tension between protecting and preparing their teens. With her trademark practical wisdom, she reminds us that what feels like conflict is often part of God’s process for refining our kids.

Episode Recap:

• As moms, we can see the writing on the wall but our teens literally can’t (1:45)
• My daughter and I fight all the time, I just do not like her right now (4:02)
• You cannot take their attitude and/or push back personally (7:43)
• How do I motivate my lazy teenage son? (9:01)
• We don’t need to coddle our sons (11:09)
• Look into our new study: How to Teach Your Kids the Bible (13:30)
• My daughter’s career dreams are unrealistic, how do we talk to her about it? (13:45)
• Any tips for a blue mom raising a melancholy 15 year old teen? (17:36)
• Our job is not to solve all our kids’ problems, it’s to point them to the Lord (19:41)

Scripture: Galatians 6:9 (NLT)
“​​So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”

Discussion Questions: 

1. When have you felt like your teen misunderstood your intentions? How did you respond?
2. Where are you tempted to take your teen’s behavior personally?
3. What would it look like to “get out of God’s way” in your parenting right now?
4. How can you stay emotionally steady when your teen is not?
5. What is one boundary you need to hold with confidence this week? 

Resources:

• Listen to the rest of our conversation on WT+: boaw.mom/insider
• Check out Karen’s Peace for the Anxious Mom study today
• Check out our BRAND NEW Bible study: How To Teach Your Kids the Bible
• Download our FREE temperaments packet
• Pick up Karen’s devotional for Teenage Girls on Amazon

Want More of This Conversation?
WT+ listeners will hear Karen encourage you to stand firm in your parental convictions without damaging the relationship. Karen shares personal stories of the fruit that both she and her children have reaped from maintaining stricter boundaries in the teenage years.

Head HERE and join us for the full conversation.