Hi – Sue Blaney here with your Parenting Tip from Parenting Teens Info.com

My tip this week is Seek Wisdom. >>Listen

I’m enjoying listening to Andy Andrew’s audiobook Mastering the Seven Decisions that Determine Personal Success. It’s interesting, inspirational and informative…. and relevant to parenting teenagers. He says we should “seek wisdom,” which is very relevant advice for parents, and I suggest it may be a good place for you to spend some energy in the upcoming holidays.

Wisdom comes from people who have experience and who have reflected on their experiences. Seek these people out. In fact, perhaps you’ll soon be spending time with relatives who have some experience in parenting teenagers. Ask them questions. Even if you are talking to your parents, and the teen they raised was you, you will surely get some interesting input if you ask questions like “What did you do best as the parent of a teenager?  “What do you wish you had done differently?” “What’s the most important thing you learned about teenagers?” Encourage your kids to participate in these valuable and special conversations. How about asking “What’s the one piece of advice you think every 18 year old ought to hear?” You might even make a game out of it over dinner, or in the car.

Wisdom comes from people and conversation, and it comes from books. When was the last time you read a good book that inspires you to think in new ways? I’m not necessarily suggesting a parenting book, although I do think it’s important to read regularly about teenagers and parenting, but I’m suggesting you pick up some wisdom for the ages from a classic, or from the inspirational genre of literature.

It’s vital that we step back from the daily hubbub of activity that can drain us, and touch base with the deeper more meaningful conversations and learning that feeds our soul. This kind of refection will sustain you, it will help you keep the daily struggles and issues in perspective, and it may even open some interesting conversation with your teen.

I hope you will create the opportunity to slow down over the holidays and go out of your way to seek wisdom.

By the way, here's a posting about three inspirational books for teenagers that might make good reading (or good gifts) for them.

Thanks for subscribing to my Two-Minute Tips for Parenting Teens ……. til next week, I’m Sue Blaney.