How to raise Catholic teenagers

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My teenagers would probably like to send me to boarding school 🤔
 
Two grown out of teenage years (sort of) plus…
15 yr old boy and an 18 yr old daughter …😅
 
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You begin raising Catholic teenagers when they are 1 day old. Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.
 
Model the behavior you want them to have right from the start, as another poster stated. Take them to Mass, even if you think they may get nothing out of it. Trust me, they do. Try to make yourself approachable and keep an open mind. We live in crazy times and more than ever do they need stability.
 
Yes, but he’s right, isn’t he!
TheLittleLady said:
Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.
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That’s the fervent hope, but in reality, it isn’t always so. Many a parent who has done all the right things, in care of their children, in their guidance, in witnessing the faith and teaching it, with their absolute best, yet can be left with total confusion and heartbreak at some choices their formerly perfect children make for their lives.

However this part is true…and from the fact that you say what you did, warm congratulations and thanks be to God for how your children have turned out.
TheLittleLady said:
You begin raising Catholic teenagers when they are 1 day old.
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Candi, is it possible to share more in the way of guiding the responses, without revealing anything you prefer not to?
 
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My parents did the very best they knew to do. They were devout Catholics and raised all of their kids in the religion. Most of us no longer are Catholic. What went wrong? Lack of communication on an intimate level. Lack of individual relationships with their kids (there were 6 of us). They were so busy trying to convince us their way was the right way, that they never asked us what we thought or how we felt about anything, religious or otherwise. What I learned from this is that there can be more than one right way, and one should never be afraid to explore. It would have been nice, if while I was exploring I had a tight bond with a parent who I could share my innermost feelings with. Not to be met with “You are wrong” but instead “Tell me more about this”, “Have you ever considered…” or “I think differently, but we are all entitled to our own opinions”. As I said, they did the best they knew to do, but there was no intimacy in the relationship they had with their kids. My best advice would be to make sure you have that. I don’t think it is ever to late while your kids are growing up. You need to be vulnerable. Kids pick up on that and will meet you. And with all that said, I am not suggesting you be a pushover by any means. Your kids need to know you are in charge. My kid always knew I was in charge, but she also always knew there was nothing we couldn’t talk about and she would never leave the conversation being told what to think, or how to feel. So important.
 
@QwertyGirl. Very good (name removed by moderator)ut. I think one of the problems with parents is that they are unable to talk with their children on intimate matters. Not all though. I agree with you that those who can have that relationship with their children where they can discuss intimate matters usually have better result in parenting.

Admittedly I am quite poor in that. Not that I don’t see the importance of talking to them on this topic but sometimes it is difficult. So this is a father’s problem for me. My wife, on the other hand, handle this better and she can discuss matters such as these with them. But I wish I could because I think I can give better advice. Hehe.

I really agree with what you said. Lack of communication means lack of meaningful communication, which is essential in bringing up children. The good side is that there is still time to learn.

God bless.
 
There is great beauty in our faith—in the love of Our Blessed Mother and the great saints, in writings, in art, in music, in prayer and family life. Celebrate and enjoy these things together with your children, especially your teens. Have wonderful and thought-provoking literature sitting out… Chesterton, CS Lewis, read it and mention it, enjoy these things in front of them. This is what my parents did. There were five of us. All of us are devout except the youngest boy who is now 24. He seems to be converting…
 
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Introduce your children to Jesus. Cultivate a relationship, it is more than drilling knowledge into their head. It is more than belief (Satan also believes and trembles).

Books like “Converting the Baptized” and “Forming Intentional Disciples” help Catholics explore discipleship.
 
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