Parenting Today’s Teens Learn More Donate Today

Do you love your kids conditionally or unconditionally? Seems like a silly question, right? Unconditionally, of course! But you might be surprised by how many teens say their parents only love them up to a certain point. This weekend on Parenting Today’s Teens, Mark Gregston explains how to communicate unconditional love to your teen.

There’s no perfect formula for bringing a teenager to maturity. But… there are three ingredients that’ll give you a good head start! First. Unconditional Love let's them know there’s nothing they can do to make you love them more, and nothing they can do to make you love them less. Second. Grace gives them room to fail …and then encouragement to learn from their mistakes. And third. Truth is the correcting influence that balances their actions with what’s right and wrong. Living out the truth also means that consequences come when they step over the line! Love, grace and truth. Take those three… flood your home and relationships with them. It’s the foundation for raising healthy, godly and mature young adults.

Teens do a lot of empty-headed communicating …especially by cell phone, I'M, Facebook and text. In fact, it’s not unusual to see a group of teens sitting in the same room …sending text-messages to one another… instead of just having normal conversations! Yeah …this new generation knows how to communicate, and they have every device imaginable to stay in touch. BUT they don’t always know how to make a personal connection. It’s not something they’ll learn …unless you make a point to teach them. So open your home for an evening of food and fun, playing board games, creating something, or just talking. Challenge them to leave their cell phones in their pockets. Look for ways to model for your teen the value of connecting with friends and family …without defaulting to their electronics.

In order for parents to have a healthy relationship with their teen… it’s necessary to create a safe harbor where healthy relationships can develop. So… does your child sense your unconditional love? Relationships thrive in an atmosphere of unqualified acceptance. That means… even when your child blows it big time, or doesn’t respond the way you’d like …you don’t threaten to abandon him. He knows, without question, that your love is forever. Every teen has a secret longing to belong. He wants a relationship that helps him discover who he is… and who he’ll become. Your child realizes this sense of significance through relationships that will never end …first with you, here on earth, and with God for all of eternity. So… are you creating space for healthy relationships? Make your home a safe harbor from the storms of life.