Home is a place where teenagers learn how to build healthy relationships.
• Teenagers learn to relate through observing adult relationships
• If parenting together, invest in your relationship (take our marriage course!)
• If parenting on your own, build the best relationship you can with the other parent, when possible
• Nurture other adult friendships
• Mealtimes together – teenagers learn to talk, listen, debate issues, and respect others’ views
• Regular family time – having fun together ias a family helps build relationships between parents and children and between siblings (consider having a weekly “family night”)
Question: How can you intentionally model healthy relationships with others in your life, for your teenager to learn from?
The four seasons of marriage (not every marriage will go through each stage, but the principles apply to all marriages)
Spring
early years of marriage
season of discovery and excitement
initial infatuation will wear off at some stage
the greatest need is to accept each other
Summer
season of increased activity and demands
may become parents during this season
may face pressures of infertility
careers can be more demanding
the greatest need is to give time to the marriage relationship
Reflect on what you’ve heard so far. Talk together about the pressures you’ve worked through until now in your relationship, and the pressures you’re currently facing.
