Recent Reads - Boundaries With Teens

This post contains affiliate links. 

Boundaries with Teens: When to Say Yes, How to Say No by Dr. John Townsend - This book was recommended to me by a friend when we were discussing some frustrating aspect of parenting teens. Honestly, I don't even remember what. And my teens are actually very good kids, and I don't have major problems with them at all. That said, there are challenges in parenting teens that are different from parenting in other age groups, and healthy boundaries are central to many of the concerns, so I was eager to see what Dr Townsend's advice would be like.

Dr Townsend sets the stage by first encouraging parents to remember what their own adolescent years were like and to imagine the world seen through their teenage child's eyes. There are some basic foundational things to deal with as parents so we can be and set healthy, consistent boundaries for our teens. He addresses the need to be relationally connected to our kids, face our own guilt and fears, and get on the same page with our spouse. He does offer some specific counsel to step-parents and single parents too.

Part Two helps the parent understand the teenage world, how and what they are thinking (and the fact that often they aren't thinking!), and the important developmental changes they are going through. We're reminded that it is, in fact, healthy for teens to challenge their parents as they begin to separate in preparation to be adults in their own right. This is a process that has to happen, but it needs to happen in a healthy way, which is why the boundaries are so important!

In Part Three, Dr. Townsend discusses the basics of establishing good boundaries and being committed to sticking with them and the consequences. And then Part Four is the nitty gritty suggestions for good boundaries and consequences for over 20 specific common teen behavior issues.

I really did find this book very helpful and insightful, and practical for parents. Best of all, it's an encouraging and uplifting advice book that gives parents solid advice from someone who's been counseling families and raising his own teens.

©2008-2016 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the Tauthor. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/