On My Mothering Teens Bookshelf

I’m neck deep in motherhood now. I have an almost 14 years old, 11-year-old, and 9-years-old. All boys. I’ve been there, done that, with so much of what parenting books talk about. I don’t have the frustration of raising a toddler or the sleep exhaustion of being the mom of babies. I’m not potty training, “sleep training”, nursing, or even constantly picking up after little ones. I’m not battling over healthy foods or bedtimes. I’m beyond that. I’ve made it to the other side. *sigh of relief*

I’m embarking on a very vital time in my parenting journey – the teen years.  I already have one teen, but he’s been such a sweet boy we’ve had zero typical teen issues as of yet. But I know they’re coming. Every teen pushes the limits, at least a little. Every teen will eventually be tested by peers by drugs and alcohol – or sex before marriage. Every teen will have some kind of moody phase. And I’m fully aware that I’ll have three teen boys in my home at one point.

I’ve decided to turn to some books to guide me along this journey. In addition to the fantastic parenting books already on my shelf, I am expanding those to now include teen specific topics.

I’m super in tune with my children’s hearts. I’ve always been emotionally sensitive in life, understanding what my babies need. But, I could always use some solid advice and logic in addition to the grace I’m grounded in. Learning from people who have gone before me is a precious gift and so, I’ve been scouring Amazon and found a few I’m purchasing this month. I’d like to share them with you now, in case you’re interested, and I’ll then do reviews on the books as I read them.

Strong Mothers, Strong Sons: Lessons mothers need to raise extraordinary men

The 5 Love Languages of Teenagers: The Secret to Loving Teens Effectively

Parenting Teens With Love And Logic: Preparing Adolescents for Responsible Adulthood, Updated and Expanded Edition

He’s Not Lazy: Empowering Your Son to Believe In Himself

I’m not sure what these books will bring to my parenting. They may be eye-opening, they may not. The one thing I want my children to know is I will always love them no matter what they do in their lives. We all make mistakes and we all need grace. God’s grace and our parent’s grace. Nothing they do will make me not like them or love them. I may be disappointed in their choices, but I won’t let their choices determine how I treat them or even feel about them. I’m hoping the books build upon that and teach me how to love and support them even deeper than I already do.

If you’ve read a great book about raising teens, I’d love for you to share it in the comments below.

I’m going to share what parenting books are currently on my shelf soon.