The first year of secondary school is a year of discovery, a year of excitement, a year of learning how to take responsibility and how far you can push things - and that's just the children! For mums and dads it's probably one of the steepest points on the parenting learning-curve.
My wife and I have been coming to terms with dealing with an ever more challenging "twelveteen" son over the last six or seven months. Once the joy and freshness of the new school started to wear off, the influence of his peers and those in the school in general took over. Harry Enfield's teenage creation of a few years ago, Kevin, doesn't come close. We're told that next year will probably be even worse!
So how can Christian parents cope with all the changes and influences on a teenager's life - school, friends, physical growth?
As with any situation for a Christian, it is to God's word, the Bible, that we should turn. With honesty and humour, Ann Benton shows in Teenagers how Proverbs can speak directly into real life, however messy, today. Under that sometimes morose exterior there lies a heart and a personality with very real needs and issues who God and parents love deeply so it's worth getting equipped to bring them up well in the ways of the Lord.
Find out more about Anne's book. Buy it on line at 20% off.
Dean is the Sales Manager at The Good Book Company. He engages with churches, organisations and individuals to provide them with useful resources for their varying ministries. Dean attends St John's Church in Woking, where he lives with his family.
