Theme for March: Rest. Rejuvenate. Recharge.
Verse:
Mom’s Musing:
Feeling zapped? Tweens and teens are emotional energy zappers. Remember the story of the bleeding woman who touched Jesus’s cloak and he felt some power go out of him? Don’t you feel like that sometimes? Hey..I can even feel like that from a look or an attitude.
Older kids can drain us. When children are little, physical exhaustion is the issue. Now the issues are the cause of emotional exhaustion. They must be dealt with in a timely fashion or they gnaw away at your energy supply. Also, self-care is very important as kids move through this phase. Rest, exercise, friendships, prayer, and God’s Word help ease the burden of being a parent of a young adult. There have been mornings where I didn’t want to face the day. I was looking at the storm instead at the one who can calm the sea. Burnout is certain if the child is the focus. As the teen spreads his wings, spread yours.
Parenting Tip: Don’t stuff the problems, deal with them as they arise. Don’t make a mountain out of a mole hill. Seek support if you feel overwhelmed. Keep your focus on God to maintain perspective. Give your burdens to him. Pray.
© LoriWildenberg. All rights reserved.
About the Author
Lori Wildenberg is a licensed parent and family educator, parent coach, and co-founder of 1Corinthians13 Parenting.com. She has written 6 books including Messy Journey: How Grace and Truth Offer the Prodigal a Way Home; The Messy Life of Parenting: Powerful and Practical Ways to Strengthen Family Connections; and her most recent book, Messy Hope: Help Your Child Overcome Anxiety, Depression, or Suicidal Ideation. Contact Lori for your next event or for parent consulting or parent training courses. Lori can also be found mentoring over at the MOMS Together Group on Facebook.
