Parenting advice (not from me)

This is some parenting tips from teen life ministries:

1. Explain "As You Love Yourself."

With so much talk of humility, most teens think that means to hate
yourself. Denying self and hating self are two entirely different
things. Explain how God wants teens to "love your neighbor as
yourself." Loving self doesn't mean being in love with yourself. It
means that we have a good self-image, a God-image. We are important
not because of who we are, but whose we are.

Whether the world thinks we're geeks or freaks, weirdoes or wackos,
only God's view and vision of us counts. And to Him we are worth
the price of His Son hammered to a cross.

2. Admit Your Insecurities.

As a parent, you may appear larger than life to teens. They may
look at you and think, "I'll never have it together like that." We
know the truth. We're not together. We have struggles, bad hair
days, and poor complexions at times.

When it's appropriate, share the things that cause your self-esteem
to shrink. Share as well the ways that the Lord strengthens you
when you don't feel so hot.

3. Encourage Self-Talk.

Tell your teens to stand in front of the mirror every morning and
night and repeat, "God don't make no junk," or "I'm made in God's
image." It might sound silly, but we really do believe what we say
to ourselves.

It may be impossible to get your teen to repeat that phrase out
loud because of the risk of being teased. Write a few God-esteem
sentences on a 3 x 5 card and give to your child to carry with him
or her.

4. Help Teens Challenge Themselves.

Get your teens proactive in the war against insecurity. A girl
might decide that she will stop buying magazines that promote the
"perfect look." A guy might choose to stop listening to music that
degrades God's creation by elevating suicide over life.

In place of those negatives, your daughter may want to start
reading a Christian magazine for young ladies, while your son might
toss out his CD collection and replace it with Christian artists.
We are what we absorb, so challenge your teens to challenge
themselves.

5. Provide Ways For Teens To Give Of Themselves.

It's tough to feel sorry for yourself when your eyes are on others.
Paul tells us in Philippians 2:4 that we should look not only on
our interests, but also the interests of others.

Keep a list of area organizations that use teens for volunteers.
When your child comes home looking low and using terms that beat up
his emotions, send him down to the area children's hospital and let
him share his life.

(Zone members get the other 5 ways on this list to send parents here:
http://www.teenlifeministries.com/site.php/arti/read/helping_your_teen_with_self-/

Blessings!
Paul and Al
www.teenlifeministries.com

Get in The Zone TODAY... www.teenlifeministries.com/thezone




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