Book Review: Becoming The Parent Your Teenager Needs

Becoming the Parent Your Teenager Needs by Rodney Cage, (Broadman & Holman Publishers (May 1999)) is a must read for parents, grandparents, and anyone involved in youth ministry on a regular basis. This book offers insights and biblical principles to help adults minister to the teenagers in their lives. 

Parents, you survived the terrible twos. You even survived that first day in Kindergarten. One day, you wake up to find that sweet little bundle of joy who loved to cuddle and worshipped Mom and Dad has been replaced by some person you don?t recognize! Who is this changeling? Yes, you guessed right: a teenager!

This book is not "Dr. Spock" for the parents of teenagers! Rodney Cage doesn?t sugar coat the teen years. He does spend time explaining the cause of some of the new undesirable behavior and attitudes your children display as they approach young adulthood. Increasing hormones is only part of the root cause of these changes. Cage suggests that more than anything, our children need prayer at this point in their lives.  He confirms that parents need prayer as well, for themselves and as advocates for their children.

With insight and wisdom, Rodney Gage bases Becoming the Parent Your Teenager Needs on his ten plus years of experience interacting with parents and teenagers through crusades and seminars. He recognizes that parents need all the help and encouragement available to effectively parent their teenagers.

Gage introduces biblical perspectives on dealing with the changing attitudes, behaviors, and perspectives that are typical as our children become teenagers. His guidance and direction help parents better identify and meet the needs of their teenager.

Becoming the Parent Your Teenager Needs provides 90 days of devotionals that offer:

* an applicable passage of Scripture,
*an encouraging and enlightening message
*a prayer guide
*questions for reflection on each day's message.

The introduction states, "This devotional is designed to be a continuing reference guide to help you effectively meet the key spiritual and emotional needs of your teenager." Equally as beneficial, many of the devotions can be applied to our own need for healing from issues of our own past.

If you find yourself struggling to communicate and interact with your teenager, this book will be a tremendous help and comfort?for you and your entire family!

Rodney Cage is President and founder of Rodney Cage, International, an interdenominational ministry to help parents and teenagers. Cage has spoken in over 500 churches across the country.