I Have A Teenager In My House...Pray For Me

Sister Marsha,
God bless you and I ask that God give you the grace needed to steer your teenager in the paths of righteousness. It ain't easy!

Last night my 13 year-old niece began to complain about doing the dishes. She's a good child who never gave me a moment's worth of trouble so far, never got into fights and the like, but when she began to complain, I told her a story I learned as a teenager:

This is the story of four people named ANYBODY, SOMEBODY, EVERYBODY, and NOBODY.

There was an important project to be done, and EVERYBODY was sure that SOMEBODY would do it.

NOBODY did it.

So SOMEBODY got mad about that, because it was EVERYBODY's job.

It turns out that EVERYBODY blamed SOMEBODY because NOBODY did what ANYBODY could have.

(You know it worked!!!)

Marsha, w/all due respect to the other commentators, you don't need prayer -- you need a steady hand. Expecting some deity to step in and do your job is a complete flake out ... and your kid[s] will see right through it.

Be firm always -- and be loving always. Trust me, this is what will work. Nothing more and nothing less.

Continue to remain her friend, as well as her mother. She's experiencing changing emotions and she'll need YOU to be more closer to her than ever before. Let her vent with you and that she can talk with you about anything, encourage her too, and that you're always there to hear her opinions, even if you don't always agree with them.

..."Marsha, w/all due respect to the other commentators, you don't need prayer -- ...

Brother Craig your comment needs no Reply, but for the sake of Sister Marsha ---at least she knows what time it T-I-S.
Sister Marsha I will continue to pray for your strength and continue to ask God to give you the Grace needed to deal with your teenage daughter. Every wise mother knows that it takes the wisdom of 'some deity' to lead and guide a teenager in today's times. ((Hugs to you Sistah))

Thanks Jen for the kind words.:) I guess Brother Craig didn't get my play on words. I am a strict disciplinarian in my house. I wasa raised by very strict West Indian parents. Basically the blog implied that I (like many parents) can use all the wisdom here on Earth and elsewhere when it comes to raising a teenager. Every parent can. You only get one chance to raise a child right. I'm taking my parenting duties very seriously.