A Prayer to Understand my Children

[upbeat music] Psalms 127:3, NLT version.

"Children are a gift from the Lord.

They are a reward from Him." Understanding your teenager can be a struggle for parents sometimes.

Teens want help with what they are struggling with, yet don't know how to explain it in words or ask for help.

Often, when parents have good intentions of helping, they can sometimes make it hard for their teenagers to come talk to them because of how they come across.

Some parents think teens' lives are so much easier now than when they grew up.

They sometimes say, "Well, when I was a kid," da, da, da.

But here is something I hope you can understand.

Comparing your life as a child to your teenager doesn't help him or her want to talk to you.

It makes them want to push you away because teenagers already compare themselves to everyone.

They think, "I'm not smart enough.

I'm not cool enough.

I'm not skinny enough." So when you say life isn't hard, it makes teenagers think they are the problem or that their feelings are invalid when they aren't.

So parents, if you want to connect with your teens and make sure you have a good relationship with them, please don't make everything about yourself.

So often people wanna relate to their kids, but then they tell a story about themselves, and the focus shifts from your teen to yourself.

You are the parent.

Your children are blessings.

When you want to talk to them about their life, just listen.

Listen well.

Don't compare.

Don't try to relate unless they ask.

You, as the parent, can listen and help, but please don't come across as judgmental.

Even when parents say, "I'm not judging you," it can feel like they are.

Sometimes your teen will go through something and perhaps isolate themselves.

Give it time.