What’s a Teenage Daughter to Do? Summertime Parenting (Part 1 of 2)

Flip-flops, ice cream, and time spent at the pool is just around the corner. It is almost summer! For teenagers, this is a much-anticipated time of fun and relaxation. No more school exams, no early morning practices, or after-school tutoring—and you can kiss homework goodbye for a few months. Finally, a little time to kick back and enjoy being a teen. Even though the pace of summer is relaxing for the teen, it can also be quite stressful for moms. What do you do with all this free time your teenage daughter now has? Do you let her sit at home and play on her phone all day? Sleep in until noon? Do you put her in every activity known to mankind just to get her out of the house? How about caving into every cry of “Mom! Take me to the mall!” just so that she can enjoy her summer vacation? It’s enough to make a parent crazy—what’s a mom to do?! Well, here are a few suggestions for a summer of recreation that will keep your teenage daughter on her toes (in a good way) while still allowing a time of rest.

First of all: breathe. Stop looking to what the family next door is doing this summer. Enjoy the break from the hustle and bustle of normal school-year activities. Let a few of those boring days happen—it is okay to rest! We all need to slow down on occasion and respite—summer allows the time for this. Occasionally, though, a bored teen can get into trouble. So, try to introduce a few activities into their daily routine that will not only teach them to be resourceful with their time but also help them be a responsible, spiritually mature adult one day. For example, have your teenager start taking on a few extra family tasks. Teach her to cook dinner for the whole family. And while you may not trust her with your taxes just yet, you can easily teach your teen how to manage their own summer spending with a small allowance they earn doing odd jobs around the house. I have even known a few teens who started summer businesses, such as babysitting or making jewelry to sell. Teaching teens adult responsibilities will pay off in the long haul—and it will keep them from being overly idle during the long summer.

Summer also provides great opportunities for you to invest into your teen’s spiritual growth. Encourage them to start a daily devotional. Take them to a Christian bookstore and let them pick out a Bible study that the two of you can do together. It is amazing the payback you get just spending a little time with your teen in God’s word. You can also look into the many activities that we have planned here at Stonebriar Community Church. One of my favorite annual summer activities is the Junior High Ministry Summer Camp to Estes Park, Colorado. It gives your teen a chance to get away and experience God in a completely different light while hanging out with other people that will encourage them in their faith! There are also great opportunities within other ministries of our church that I highly encourage you to check out. Children’s Ministry is always looking for more volunteers to help with Vacation Bible School! Teaching your teens to serve is one of the greatest gifts you give them and it can be a lot of fun!

These different activities give teenagers a chance to do something more with their summer than sleep it away. The summer is a unique time to deeply invest in your teenager’s growth. So, as you begin planning out this summer, remember to take each day as it comes, whether it is laid back or filled with activities. Enjoy summer while you can because the next school year will be here before you know it.