Let's Talk About Living with Teens

Jennifer contacted us and asked for any tips we have about raising teens. It's a tough time to be raising adolescents, and there is little support for a Catholic lifestyle. In addition, the Internet and video games dominate the lives of many of them.  

We thought we were doing a great job homeschooling them, but they roll their eyes like their public school counterparts.  What is a Catholic parent to do?  We tackle that in today's podcast.

Show Notes:

Teens have lots of energy.  If you do not channel it into wholesome, enriching activities, they will find less wholesome activities to occupy themselves. Here are our tips to raise good kids while retaining your sanity.

Every Teen Should Have:

   1. Regular household responsibilities - You choose the chores.

   2. A Job - Start with babysitting, snow shoveling, lawn mowing, whatever.  

   3. An after-school activity - sports, dance, theatre, or church group. Something wholesome.

Don't Argue – You Will Never Win.

   1. Explain your rules simply." Sitting around playing video games with your friends does nothing to make you a better person." You do not have to defend that point of view.  

   2. If a kid makes a rude demand - It does you no good to argue. Tell the kid to leave the room, gather her thoughts, and come back and speak in a civil tone. And then turn your back!

Use Good Judgment with Electronics

   1. Give your teens flip phones – no internet.  Consider smartphones when they begin to drive.

   2. Unlimited Internet access is not a good idea. Have your kids hand over phones at a particular time to a family "charging station."  

   3. Unlimited Access to laptops and Chromebooks is also not a good idea. 

   4. Limit video games and encourage board games.

Remember - You Are Guiding Them into Adulthood.  They need increasing Independence. 

   1. Strict curfews make less sense than "Come to me with a plan…"

   2. Tell them if they do something dumb to call you – encourage honesty.  Let them know you are on their side.

   3. Allow friends of the opposite sex to come to family gatherings or other public events – strict "no dating until you are ready to get married" rules lead to lying.

   4. Teens need to acknowledge their actions have consequences for which they're responsible.  

Thanks to Jennifer for the idea. 

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Homeschooling Resources

Seton Home Study School

Seton Testing Services