Session 2: Swerve Parent Cue

We may be able to recognize the need for guardrails in some relationships and habits, but what about relationships with our friends? It seems a bit odd to think we may need to set up boundaries with our friends. But our friends have the power to influence our decisions, our actions and even the quality of our lives. With that much potential to determine the direction of our lives, putting up a few guardrails when it comes to our friendships may be one of the wisest things we can do.

How important to you are the friendships you have right now? Do you feel like the friends you have really make a difference in your life? Do you believe that your choices about your friends really matter?

Session 1:Shift Parent Cue

Guardrails are part of our every day experience. Whether we are walking, biking or driving there are guardrails all around us to protect us from those off-limit areas—areas where we could drop off the edge or crash into something. But where are the guardrails in our actual, everyday lives? We have to establish those personal guardrails ourselves so that we can back up and stay on the safe side of a potentially dangerous situation.

Has there ever been a time when you wish you had some guardrails in place—something that would have protected you from a certain situation? Can you share a time that you did have some boundaries and were protected from something because of them?

Parents: Storm Watch

Velocity Parents,

In this series we are finishing up tonight we are talking about some of life’s most challenging situations. Your child may be taking a look at his or her life in a new way, and this may provide an opportunity to learn something new about their world, about their story. Try to find some time over the next few weeks to get away with your child for a few hours. Go some place they enjoy being, and see if you can become a student of your child. Let them teach you about their experiences. You may find an opportunity to share with your child about a storm you went through, but first make their story a priority. Understanding your child will take intentional listening.

Chap Clark is professor of youth, family, and culture at Fuller Theological Seminary and the father of three grown children. Here is what Chap recently had to say about the importance of understanding in the life of parenting a teenager.

“To understand, as the most foundational of all parenting roles, is to make sure that your child knows that you are absolutely, unequivocally committed to working hard at taking seriously the reality of your child’s life.”[1]

We are praying for you!

[1] Clark, Chap and Dee Clark. Disconnected: Parenting Teens in a MySpaceâ World. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2007.

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[1] Clark, Chap and Dee Clark. Disconnected: Parenting Teens in a MySpaceâ World. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2007.