Solid Advice and Bible-Based Solutions

"My wife and I are concerned about our teenage son. He doesnt seem to take an interest in anything constructive. Hes into skateboarding and extreme sports, but he can get obsessed with it and we don't quite know what to do. Last year his grades fell dramatically, and he didnt seem to care. We know hes not on drugs and the kids he hangs around with seem like nice kids. Hes been to a counselor and the counselor said this is just normal behavior for a 14 year old. But he just doesnt seem to care about his future or taking pride in his work. What do you suggest we do?

First of all, I commend the parents for taking a real interest in their 14-year-old son. Unfortunately, all too many parents in this day and age are so busy with their own lives that they have little time for their children. This often is at its worst when kids need their parents the most. The middle school years are extremely challenging for both boys and girls. Yet, it is this time that many parents believe at last, my kid is old enough to take care of himself/herself. This just is not the case. It is precisely this age group that needs to experience love, care, mentoring and assurance more than any other age group. Scripture is clear about the responsibility of parents to raise godly children and to teach them the values that they will need to have as they enter into young adulthood. Concern is good, but a proactive relationship at this juncture is critical, or the child will abandon his ...