With honesty and humour, Ann shows how Proverbs can speak directly into real life, however messy, today.
'Under that hoodie, behind that eye make-up, there frequently lurks a human being of immense charm, affection and wit.'
Ann Benton admits that, when her children were teenagers, she enjoyed 'the very best of parenting years'. Yet, from her experience and that of others, she is well aware of the frustrations, pitfalls and difficulties that parenting teens can bring.
The Bible book of Proverbs points to wisdom as the key to health, happiness and prosperity. The author points out that the job of parents is not first and foremost to make their teens successful, but to make them wise.
With honesty and humour, Ann shows how Proverbs can speak directly into real life, however messy, today.
Acknowledgements
Preface
1. Introduction: The survival handbook
Are teenagers a subject of their own?
Where should we look for advice?
The 'three Rs' of parenting teenagers
2. The faith family and the faithless world
Our children and God's children
The distincitves of a Christian home
Secular child-rearing
The witness of a Christian family
3. Fools, mockers and simpletons
Seven vulnerable areas for teenagers
Vulnerability and opportunity
What kind of fool?
4. Routes to wisdom
Route 1: Observation and interpretation
Route 2: Instruction based on television
Route 3: Learning from mistakes
Route 4: The fear of the Lord
Four things a parent can do
5. Meet the parents
Fear and her babies
Guilt and her babies
Why does it sometimes have to be so hard?
6. Key strategies
Key strategy 1: Screen the messages
Key strategy 2: Strengthen the relationship
Key strategy 3: Spotlight the heart
Key strategy 4: Shape dependence on God
7. When dream turns to nightmare
There doesn't have to be a reason
The smorgasbord of emotion - do you have a choice
Love's austere and lonely offices
Some temptations to handle
What about the future?
8. More than survival
Affection
Stimulation
Education
Cooperation
Sanctification
Gratification
Succession
Appendix: For further reading
| Contributors | Ann Benton |
|---|---|
| ISBN | 9781844748327 |
| Format | eBook |
| First published | May 2014 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | IVP |
