Preparing Your Teen’s Heart for Graduation

Preparing Your Teen’s Heart for Graduation means taking steps to move towards separation while fostering communication. With the right choices, you can equip your child’s heart to transition to a healthy, happy college career.

 

 

 

 

I’ve been a homeschooling mom for twenty-five years with two college graduates and one child in the process. (I also have a kindergartener and two preschoolers, but that’s a different blog!)

 

Preparing Your Teen’s Heart for Graduation

 

My kids did (mostly) awesome in college. They got good grades, made good friends, and blossomed into godly adults. All my kids went to secular local and state colleges, yet their relationship with God grew. Looking back at their teen years, here are some things that prepared their hearts most.

 

Involved Parents

John and I loved having teens. We had dinner nightly with them, we served in church together, and we enjoyed long talks. To do this we had to be open and available. We cut back on our personal recreation, work, and goals to have time with them. This prepared our children’s hearts by proving they were worthy. They had the attention of their parents and didn’t seek it from unhealthy relationships in college.

 

Cheering Parents

Two of our teens were involved in homeschool basketball. In Montana, this meant driving hours and hours for one or two games. During this season, our whole family piled into our SUV. We drove them, and we cheered them on. For our son who didn’t play basketball, we also took an interest in his pursuits. Our teens had our praise, approval, and cheers. They didn’t enter college with gaping holes in their hearts that needed to be filled up with substances or risky behavior.

 

An Open-door Policy

John and I wanted our home to be the one where all the teens hung out. We had an open-door policy. Our house was open for their friends to join us for dinner, for games, or for just hanging out. We made sure our house was teen-friendly and filled the fridge and pantry with snacks. And sometimes their friends came to hang out even when our kids weren’t there! Our children had solid friendships with other godly teens when they entered college. Their foundation allowed them to be friends with unbelievers, too, yet also remain strong in God.

 

Other Supportive Adults

Our teens had an amazing youth minister’s family who was deeply involved in their lives. They had other caring adults they could turn to for encouragement and advice. We encouraged these relationships, knowing that sometimes it’s easier to talk to an adult friend than a parent. They had a support system that gave their strength for the challenges of college.

 

A Knowledge of God’s Word and a Deep Commitment to God

Our children were not perfect in college. There were times they messed up. (Like when our daughter performed in a theater production we considered questionable!) Yet when they didn’t want to listen to our advice God’s Spirit and God’s Word spoke to them. When my husband and I couldn’t get their attention, God did! Their relationships with God pointed them to the truth for college and beyond!

 

What about you? In what ways are you preparing your teens’ hearts for college?

 

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Steps You Can Take in Preparing Your Teen’s Heart for Graduation

1. Make time in your schedule for your teen.
2. Create a teen-friendly home and atmosphere.
3. Encourage your teens to have a relationship with other godly adults.
4. Spend time in Bible reading with your teen or provide your teen with the tools for effective study.

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Today’s Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, 

I thank you for our teens. I thank you for all the ways they’ve grown in you. Please guide me today in having the desire and the time to prepare their hearts for college and all the challenges that come with that. 

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Preparing Your Teen’s Heart for Graduation and Beyond

Does your family need an event planner to get organized? A psychologist to calm the dream? A playground monitor to halt the hairpulling? When it comes to family leadership, what your children really need is… you, acting like Jesus.

My book, Lead Your Family Like Jesus, reveals twelve priceless parenting principles based on the Savior’s life and teachings – from “Say Yes to the Best and No to the Rest” to “Know the Difference Between a Crisis and a Bump in the Road.” You’ll discover how your heart, head, hands, and habits can work together as you serve your way to a truly Christ-centered family.

What would Jesus do? Find out by gaining strength and joy in following His example at home in Lead Your Family Like Jesus. 

 

 

Find More Inspiration in My Video Series: Lead Your Family Like Jesus

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