Teens

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A Teen’s Ten Commandments To Parents

1. I’m just as tall as you are in many instances but I still need and want your help and guidance to be the adult you are.

2. My eyes and ears have not seen and heard the world as yours have. Please let me explore it safely. Don’t try to protect me from everything. I know more than you think. Just don’t communicate with me INTERACT with me. That is, let me talk too! I can tell you a great many things. Just let me, please!!

3. Earning money and getting me and the family things are really nice but I really want your time, you and your unconditional love. Stuff you can get later and comes and goes but your unconditional love will remain with me forever! I won’t be a teen too much longer. Soon I’ll be on my own. So take time to explain to me this wonderful world and do so willingly. I’ll love you for it!

4. I’m a special gift from God and He don’t make no junk! Please treasure me, hold me accountable for what I do! I won’t like it at first but in time I’ll understand that you did it because you love me and I’ll love you for it for the rest of my life!

5. I need your encouragement and your praise. Go easy on the criticism. Daddy tell me about boys if I’m a girl. And daddy even though I’m a teen, a girl still wants and needs a hug and kiss from you and to hear that I’m your princess. Daddy teach me how to be a Godly man if I’m a boy. Teach me how to treat girls and women in a Godly manner. Mom tell me about girls if I’m a boy. And mom even though I’m a teen, a guy still wants a hug and kiss from you and to hear I’m your young knight. Mom teach me how to be a Godly woman if I’m a girl. Teach me how to act and treat boys and men in a Godly manner. Let me see how you love each other unconditionally. That makes me feel so good!!!

6. Please teach me about sex, unconditional love, how to manage my money and behave myself in a Godly manner. I’d rather hear these things from you. I like the personal touch. And please don’t be scared! But if you are I’ll understand because I’m scared too!

7. Please give me the freedom to make some decisions concerning myself. That doesn’t mean doing what I want. I still need your help. Permit me to fail so that I can learn from my mistakes. Then in a few years, I’ll be prepared to make the kinds of decisions life requires me to make.

8. If you make a really big mistake and it involves me, you’ll be 100 feet tall in my eyes if you admit the mistake and apologize. If you don’t apologize, it will be a mistake I’ll remember forever hurting my relationship with you. When I was younger, you could do no wrong but I’m older now and people make mistakes and I’ve learned that apologizing is good for the soul and relationships.

9. Know that rules without a relationship results in rebellion. And that rebellion will be towards you, other people, God and society. You are God’s representative on earth and what you do gives me a little idea as to what God is like even though I know you aren’t perfect!

10. Just don’t tell me about God and His existence. Remember most of what I learn is not taught but caught from what you do. Please go with me to worship services regularly and often. Set a good example for me to follow and I will never depart from God and His love.


©Stephen A. Peterson, 2004

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