There’s a freshness to the air this time of year. Parents are checking off lists, figuring out new schedules, and giving a sigh of relief. It will be short-lived, but for now, they feel things will settle down. Children are squeezing out every last bit of the freedom their summer has offered. They know school is about to begin.
Young ones are excited about school. Everything is new. They chose their backpacks, water bottles, and pencil boxes. They have met their teachers and are looking forward to making new friends and learning new things. Mom has purchased big pencils, crayons, special notebooks, blunt-nosed scissors, and glue sticks. We’ve come a long way from the glue bottles I had and the weird kids that used to eat the glue. LOL!
Middle schoolers are excited to get back to school to see their friends. They are most likely wearing their favorite outfit. Girls and boys alike spend a long time getting their hair just right. This year is crucial. For some unexplained reason, blending in is more important than before. Mom watches them walk away with an anxious heart, but she’s not sure why either; after all, they’re still so young, right? Not for long, Mom. Right now, you’re still the one they come to with questions. Enjoy this time. Begin to set priorities. Make prayer and Bible study a priority. Get them involved in church activities. Christian friends that will grow with your children throughout their school years. Keep that circle of friends close. Encourage those friendships to grow.
Junior High kids are no longer children. Hormones are surging. People call them “tweens. These poor kids are living between childhood and teenage years. Most adults wouldn’t go back to that point in their life for anything! Those years are hard. The school lessons are easy. The maturing process is hard. Everything matters: every article of clothing, every blemish, every word spoken, every friend, everything. All a kid wants is to fit in. Mom, don’t take it personally when your child rejects your advice. From this point on, most parents become like the Peanuts teacher character. All your child hears is, “Woh, wah, woh.” LOL! Having those Christian friends with Christian parents that your child might listen to is invaluable.
High School kids are different all together. Many people think of them as mini-adults. They are not. They are teenagers. Their brains are still growing and developing. Their decision-making ability is not fully developed, which can lead them to make wrong choices. They still need a parent, not a friend. Teenagers need boundaries and discipline. Those boundaries should be set long before they get to high school. Teenagers should know what their parents expect from them before they begin high school. High school brings more freedom, more choices, and opportunities for teenagers. Please give them the tools they need to make informed decisions and good choices. Make sure they know you are their advocate. Make sure they know you will always be there when they need you. Make sure they have a relationship with God, and know He will guide and protect them wherever they go. Your teenager has a bright future. Keep their light shining. Bathe them in prayer.
“Train up a child in the way he should live, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6