As parents, we have always spurred our children from the very
beginning to the morals and virtues like benediction, compassion, justice,
faith, hope and many more. We always take it as our job, inspiring and
encouraging our children to overcome all barriers, and to go after and work
hard looking after their needs, their activities, if or not they are going out
of their drawn boundaries. But according to Jerry Johnston the renowned author and a gifted communicator
with a passion for teens “The teenage years do not have to be so hard for
parents”!
Experience The Joy That Comes From Being Teenager’s Parents: Dr. Johnston
While acknowledging that though adolescence can be challenging for
parents and teenagers alike, but “Adolescence is not a period of being ‘crazy’
or ‘immature.’ It is a crucial and most joyous time of emotional intensity,
social engagement, and creativity.” Jerry
Johnston wants you to experience the joy that comes from being your teenager’s
best friend.
While they are teenagers, your children can develop a more
meaningful friendship with you. And perhaps their adolescence is the only
rewarding time of building close relationships that are supported on the
footings of emotional bond. This emotional bond eases the liberty and gives
your child inner strength to discuss even the disastrous or embarrassing
situation of his life and get it sorted.
Dr. Jerry understands the special challenges
parents of teens face and he has developed proven strategies for overcoming
those challenges. He has covered all the
topics in detail in his book: “Inspire
Your Kids to Greatness”.
“Never, never
give up on any child!” – urges the book by Dr. Johnston
The book has done good justice to bridge the generation gap between
the child and parents. Jerry being a
renowned pastor, has particularly focused and researched homes, where parents
and children face a problem of Generation gap
and many parents tend to have ideas which their children call archaic
while their children have ideas which the parents think are weird. Dr. Jerry has done deep down study on how do we
communicate with these children? And he has approached this issue from both
sides in a condensed manner and has steeply arrived at an acceptable
compromise.
Johnston has outlined strategies any parent can take to build
(or rebuild) a positive relationship with his or her teenager. He sets
forth an 'equation for greatness' that will help parents instill foundational
beliefs and values into their teenage children. He has framed guidelines on how
to motivate children to be competitive. It also touches the solid grounds
of how to overcome perceived or even real deficiencies in the child as well as
in the parent. It is a must read book for the parents seeking to instill
foundational beliefs and values into their teenage children.
How to Imitate Jesus or Follow “Teachings
of Christ” while Showing Love for Your Teenager?
There is a stress on upholding family traditions and values as a way
to battle cultural influences including but not limited to pop trends,
unwholesome sex–crazed culture, the homosexual revolution and the declining
Christian culture in the national lifestyle.
CHRISTIAN parents have few joys like that of watching their children
get baptized. What role do you as a parent play during those crucial
years? Consider how Jesus, after he grew into adulthood, manifested love,
humility, and insight. How can these qualities help you to train your teenager
to serve Jehovah? (Read Luke 2:52.)
How to Be a Great Parent?
- Pay
Attention To What Your Child Loves: Follow your
child’s bliss. Look towards the stuff that interests your child most.
- Expect
Good Things, but Don’t Go Too Far: It’s good to
letting your child know your expectations in terms of activities or any other
good thing. But applying pressure and showing anger when those activities don’t
work is not at all a good way. Celebrate over your child’s efforts toward
something, rather than only rewarding a perfect result.
- Give
Them The Opportunity: Allow your
child to try their hands on all kinds of sports, classes and extra-curricular
activities that they’re interested in, and motivate them to also try new things
that they may not have thought about previously. Doing so will surely allow
them to find the things that they truly love to do and will open their mind to
their endless possibilities that are within their reach. Try not to make mistake of bombarding your child with too many
activities all at once as this may become an overwhelming situation for them
and as a result they may move under depression.
- Understand
the Power of Praise and Support: You may not like
the entire situation or all of the circumstances, your child chooses to do but
your praise, and support and recognition are powerful elements that are
extremely beneficial to your child.
As you raise your children, you may sometimes feel as did the
apostle Paul, who became a spiritual father to many. He experienced
“tribulation and anguish of heart” because of “the depth of love” he had for
his spiritual children in Corinth.
(2 Cor. 2:4;1 Cor. 4:15) Victor, who raised two sons and a
daughter, says: “The teenage years were not easy. Yet, the good times
outweighed the challenges we faced. With Jehovah’s help, we enjoyed a close
friendship with our children.”
“Keep working
tirelessly to train your children to the height of greatness. No greater
joy do I have than this: that I should hear that my children go on walking
in the truth” —3 John 4.