Raising Successful Teens {Review}

In Raising Successful Teens, Jeffrey Dean exposes the pressures of today's teens and the challenges of today's parents.  Social media, texting, and cell phones all represent new dimensions of parenthood that are unique to this generation.  We find ourselves in uncharted territory, while the world fights to drive a wedge between teens and parents.  The author addresses these issues and more with sound Biblical truth and practical advice, as well as insight into today's teens based on years in ministry and counseling.

Raising Successful Teens opens with a reminder that God has matched each parent with their specific child.  He has a plan for each family and the makeup of that family is no mistake.  Dean encourages parents to dig in and be prepared to fight for their children.  Sometimes parenthood is hard, and parenting teens can be particularly hard.  Dean reminds parents that the fight is worth it.  That no matter how much teens push back, they desperately desire to have a deep, loving relationship with their parents.  The author then reminds us that our ultimate goal should be to raise children and teens who love the Lord and love others.  While practical issues are addressed in this book, they all start from the basis that loving the Lord and others is our end goal in Raising Successful Teens.

Later chapters touch on such issues as identity, technology, cell phones, dating, friendships, purpose, and more.  Much of the information is unique to this particular generation and filled with practical advice.  While I would consider my husband and I to be involved parents, even we have been overwhelmed by some of the issues of today's teens.  This book provided a fresh perspective of how to encounter these issues and work through them.  And it was a huge encouragement to be "all-in parents" as our kids need us now more than ever.

Raising Successful Teens is finding a permanent place on my bookshelf as we're just beginning to navigate the waters of this new stage in life.  But I can already see that it has provided much needed encouragement, perspective, hope, and practical tools.  This book is quickly rising in my list of top parenting books that I will reach for time and time again.

*Disclaimer: This book was provided free from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.