Being there for your kids - How does your teen become an adult?

Episode Date: July 9, 2018

As parents, our ultimate goal is to launch our teens as independent, responsible, socially-conscious persons into adulthood. This podcast gives you a glimpse into the trials, tribulations, joys, blessings of a launch well done.

This is Teachable Moments. I'm Dr. John Robinson. We all look forward to the opportunity of launching our children into adulthood. Do you ever brag to others about how well your adult children are doing? Well educated, great job, great family, on their way. How did that happen? Adolescence is the proving ground for adulthood, where our teens develop the tools to have an enriching, successful adult life. Analogous to our space program, we parents are in ground control in Houston. After graduating high school, our teens enter adult life in one way or another. Job, college, marriage, a life mostly separate from us. Before launch, we provide teens with measures of accountability, curfews 12 o'clock hun, don't be late, and oversight. Let me look over your college personal statement before you submit it. We guide the launch by exercising the principle of responsible freedom. Our teens have as much freedom

as they demonstrate responsibility for. If or when they become irresponsible, we pull back on their freedom and give them opportunity to learn from their mistake and regain our trust. After launch, on their journey, we help them make mid-course corrections, much like the thruster rockets on the side of the spaceship adjusts its trajectory. As parents of teens, we use advice-based parenting tools. Been there, done that, son, let's talk. As parents of young adults, we switch to consultative parenting. I have some thoughts about what's going on. Do you want to hear them? Getting their permission first conveys your respect and recognition that they're grown and gone. then you are free to convey wise counsel.

Launching your teen into adulthood can take 10 weeks, 10 months, 10 years. Think about the boomerang kid. Be patient and use your active listening. They will get it and make you prouder. I'm Dr. John Robinson, licensed clinical psychologist and Christian parenting author, and this has been Teachable Moments. Teachable Moments, Building Blocks of Christian Parenting, is available online at AmazonBooks.com and in local and national bookstores.

More on Dr. Robinson at TMCP-I-N-C.com.