God Gave Me Teenagers

Our Keepsake Journal is Here! 🎉

I am the mother of teenagers.

If I say this in general conversation, I can pretty much bank on one of a few responses:

“Wow. That’s rough.”

“Uh-oh. How’s that going for you?”

“Well, hang in there. You’ll get through it.”

I understand these reactions. I really do. Parenting teenagers is so hard because it matters so much. There are limits to set, decisions to make, hearts to heal, minds to redirect, hormones to manage, schedules to juggle, and mood swings to ride out . . . all while we’re keenly aware that in some ways, the time we have to do these things is running out.

But once in a while, when I tell someone I’m a mom of teenagers, I wouldn’t mind hearing something like this:

“How wonderful! You must love it!”

Because I think it is wonderful. Because I think my teenagers are wonderful. Because I do love it—and them.

God knew what He was doing when He gave me children and then allowed them to grow to an age that ends in “teen”.

God gave me teenagers to take me places in my mind and soul I wouldn’t have gone otherwise . . . places I needed to go.

God gave me teenagers to make me laugh like I’ve never laughed before.

God gave me teenagers to leave me in awe that a child who was once a helpless baby has turned into someone who knows how to play the cello or pass a football or understand calculus or do a pirouette or repair a car engine or build a robot.

God gave me teenagers to teach me how to give out love that is not always obviously, immediately given back.

God gave me teenagers to stretch my mind: “Is this something I need to speak up or shut up about?” or “What does that look on her face mean?” or “Is it time worry?”

God gave me teenagers to develop my patience.

God gave me teenagers to bring me to my knees in prayer and to my feet in celebration.

God gave me teenagers to put someone in my life who sometimes worries about me the way I worry about them.

God gave me teenagers to test me.

God gave me teenagers to show me what kindness and bravery and determination and compassion look like.

God gave me teenagers to humble me.

God gave me teenagers to help me.

God gave me teenagers to inspire me.

God gave me teenagers to move me to tears.

God gave me teenagers to overwhelm me with pride and joy.

God gave me teenagers to change me for the better.

God gave me teenagers to strengthen me.

God gave me teenagers to delight me, perplex me, thrill me, and humble me . . . usually within the same 24 hours.

God gave me teenagers to challenge me.

God gave me teenagers to amaze me.

God gave me teenagers to give me hope for the future.

God gave me teenagers to expand my heart with a kind of love that breaks it and heals it . . . a love that empties it out and then fills it back up again.

Next time I’m in a conversation with someone and the talk turns to kids, I think I’ll set the stage right from the get-go and tell them, “I’m a mom of teenagers. It’s wonderful. I love it.”

Because I am. Because it is. Because I do.

You might also like:

Dear Mom, This Is What I Need You To Remember Now That I’m a Teenager

The Kids May Be Grown, But Mom Is Still Their Home

Dear Daughter, Remember This About Me When You Become a Mother

Want more stories of love, family, and faith from the heart of every home, delivered straight to you? Sign up here!

So God Made a Mother book by Leslie Means

If you liked this, you'll love our book, SO GOD MADE A MOTHER available now!

Order Now

Check out our new Keepsake Companion Journal that pairs with our So God Made a Mother book!

Order Now

So God Made a Mother's Story Keepsake Journal

Her View Shop

Motherhood older kids parenting raising teens teenagers teens

Elizabeth Spencer

Elizabeth Spencer is mom to two daughters (one teen and one young adult) who regularly dispense love, affection, and brutally honest fashion advice. She writes about faith, food, and family (with some occasional funny thrown in) at Guilty Chocoholic Mama and avoids working on her 100-year-old farmhouse by spending time on Facebook and Twitter.

Being a Hands-on Dad Matters

In: Kids, Living

I am a hands-on dad. I take pride in spending time with my kids. Last week I took my toddler to the park. He’s two and has recently outgrown peek-a-boo, but nothing gets him laughing like him seeing me pop into the slide to scare him as he goes down. He grew to like this so much that he actually would not go down the slide unless he saw me in his range of vision going down. When it’s time to walk in the parking lot he knows to hold my hand, and he grabs my hand instinctively when he needs help...

Keep Reading

5 Kids in the Bible Who Will Inspire Yours

In: Faith, Kids

Gathering my kids for morning Bible study has become our family’s cornerstone, a time not just for spiritual growth but for real, hearty conversations about life, courage, and making a difference. It’s not perfect, but it’s ours. My oldest, who’s 11, is at that age where he’s just beginning to understand the weight of his actions and decisions. He’s eager, yet unsure, about his ability to influence his world. It’s a big deal for him, and frankly, for me too. I want him to know, deeply know, that his choices matter, that he can be a force for good, just...

Keep Reading

A Mother’s Love is the Best Medicine

In: Kids, Motherhood

Child lying on couch under blankets, color photo

When my kids are sick, I watch them sleep and see every age they have ever been at once. The sleepless nights with a fussy toddler, the too-hot cheeks of a baby against my own skin, the clean-up duty with my husband at 3 a.m., every restless moment floods my thoughts. I can almost feel the rocking—so much rocking—and hear myself singing the same lullaby until my voice became nothing but a whisper. I can still smell the pink antibiotics in a tiny syringe. Although my babies are now six and nine years old, the minute that fever spikes, they...

Keep Reading

Right Now I’m a Mom Who’s Not Ready to Let Go

In: Child, Kids, Motherhood

Mother and daughter hugging, color photo

We’re doing it. We’re applying, touring, and submitting pre-school applications. It feels a lot like my college application days, and there’s this image in my mind of how fast that day will come with my sweet girl once she enters the school doors. It’s a bizarre place to be because if I’m honest, I know it’s time to let her go, but my heart is screaming, “I’m not ready yet!” She’s four now though. Four years have flown by, and I don’t know how it happened. She can put her own clothes on and take herself to the bathroom. She...

Keep Reading

Each Child You Raise is Unique

In: Kids, Motherhood

Three little boys under a blanket, black-and-white photo

The hardest part about raising children? Well, there’s a lot, but to me, one major thing is that they are all completely different than one another. Nothing is the same. Like anything. Ever. Your first comes and you basically grow up with them, you learn through your mistakes as well as your triumphs. They go to all the parties with you, restaurants, sporting events, traveling—they just fit into your life. You learn the dos and don’ts, but your life doesn’t change as much as you thought. You start to think Wow! This was easy, let’s have another. RELATED: Isn’t Parenting...

Keep Reading

Our Kids Need Us as Much as We Need Them

In: Kids, Motherhood

Little boy sitting on bench with dog nearby, color photo

During a moment of sadness last week, my lively and joyful toddler voluntarily sat with me on the couch, holding hands and snuggling for a good hour. This brought comfort and happiness to the situation. At that moment, I realized sometimes our kids need us, sometimes we need them, and sometimes we need each other at the same time. Kids need us. From the moment they enter the world, infants express their needs through tiny (or loud) cries. Toddlers need lots of cuddling as their brains try to comprehend black, white, and all the colors of the expanding world around...

Keep Reading

Your Kids Don’t Need More Things, They Need More You

In: Faith, Kids, Motherhood

Mother and young girl smiling together at home

He reached for my hand and then looked up. His sweet smile and lingering gaze flooded my weary heart with much-needed peace. “Thank you for taking me to the library, Mommy! It’s like we’re on a date! I like it when it’s just the two of us.” We entered the library, hand in hand, and headed toward the LEGO table. As I began gathering books nearby, I was surprised to feel my son’s arms around me. He gave me a quick squeeze and a kiss with an “I love you, Mommy” before returning to his LEGO—three separate times. My typically...

Keep Reading

This Time In the Passenger Seat is Precious

In: Kids, Motherhood, Teen

Teen driver with parent in passenger seat

When you’re parenting preteens and teens, it sometimes feels like you are an unpaid Uber driver. It can be a thankless job. During busy seasons, I spend 80 percent of my evenings driving, parking, dropping off, picking up, sitting in traffic, running errands, waiting in drive-thru lines. I say things like buckle your seat belt, turn that music down a little bit, take your trash inside, stop yelling—we are in the car, keep your hands to yourself, don’t make me turn this car around, get your feet off the back of the seat, this car is not a trash can,...

Keep Reading

So God Made My Daughter a Wrestler

In: Kids, Motherhood

Young female wrestler wearing mouth guard and wrestling singlet

God made my girl a wrestler. Gosh, those are words I would never have thought I would say or be so insanely proud to share with you. But I am. I know with 100 percent certainty and overwhelming pride that God made my girl a wrestler. But it’s been a journey. Probably one that started in the spring of 2010 when I was pregnant with my first baby and having the 20-week anatomy ultrasound. I remember hearing the word “girl” and squealing. I was over the moon excited—all I could think about were hair bows and cute outfits. And so...

Keep Reading

A Big Family Can Mean Big Feelings

In: Faith, Kids, Motherhood

Family with many kids holding hands on beach

I’m a mother of six. Some are biological, and some are adopted. I homeschool most of them. I’m a “trauma momma” with my own mental health struggles. My husband and I together are raising children who have their own mental illnesses and special needs. Not all of them, but many of them. I battle thoughts of anxiety and OCD daily. I exercise, eat decently, take meds and supplements, yet I still have to go to battle. The new year has started slow and steady. Our younger kids who are going to public school are doing great in their classes and...

Keep Reading

Dear Kids, You May Come From a Broken Family, But You Are Not Broken

Kids

Dear Kids, You May Come From a Broken Family, But You Are Not Broken

Thank You For Being a Dad Who Shows Up

Kids

If you liked this, you'll love our book, SO GOD MADE A MOTHER available now!

Check out our new Keepsake Companion Journal that pairs with our So God Made a Mother book!

Her View Shop

Being a Hands-on Dad Matters

5 Kids in the Bible Who Will Inspire Yours

A Mother’s Love is the Best Medicine

Right Now I’m a Mom Who’s Not Ready to Let Go

Each Child You Raise is Unique

Our Kids Need Us as Much as We Need Them

Your Kids Don’t Need More Things, They Need More You

This Time In the Passenger Seat is Precious

So God Made My Daughter a Wrestler

A Big Family Can Mean Big Feelings

Previous Post

Next Post

You May Also Like