Raising teenagers can be a frightening and draining experience. For you parents of teens, I want to share with you some hopeful and practical advice.

    Tom McMahon shudders when he things back to his carefree, reckless adolescent years. Today, as a professor of counseling and father of two adolescents, he decided to help guide parents of teens through the land mines. In his book, Teen Tips: A Practical Survival Guide, McMahon is spreading the word on some of the better approaches to nurturing adolescents.

    From his interviews with dozens of parents, here are some of his conclusions:

1. Talk with your kids about their strengths—He found the greatest mistake parents make with their teens is they lecture and they criticize, rather than building them up. He encourages parents to resist talking down to their kids and instead catch them doing some good and praise them.
2. Capitalize on the best times to talk with your teens—The best talks you can have occur while you are driving in the car. Since there is less eye contact, they tend to open up more. The second best time to communicate with teens is at bed time.

    Parents of teens, I pray these challenging years will be productive and valuable for both you and your teens. Of course, the most vital ingredient to raising your teenage is your personal relationship with the Lord. As Proverbs 14:26 says, “He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge.”