pWARNING! Parental Encouragement Ahead!
One of the ways pre-teens express their new found independence is to test the limits of their home environment. "How much space will my parents let me get away with?" It is a great test of your mettle as a parent: do you know when to close the gap and when to grant space?
Teens sometimes test to see if you care enough to enter the gap and engage them in an adult way while at other times they are falling back into childlike patterns of the past and trying to create space. The wisdom of another experienced parent can be tremendously valuable. That is why supportive communities of faith can be so helpful for parents of teens and pre-teens. Someone who has navigated these challenging times can be very helpful in knowing when to lean in and when to grant space.
Knowing when to engage is difficult thing to determine and a faith community can be an invaluable resource. Let us know if we can help. There is always reason for hope!
