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Susan Alexander Yates

Susan Alexander Yates

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And Then I Had Teenagers: Encouragement for Parents of Teens and Preteens

And Then I Had Teenagers: Encouragement for Parents of Teens and Preteens
Author: Susan Alexander Yates
Publisher: Baker Books
Publication Year: 2001

If your kids are approaching the teen years or looking at colleges, this book is for you. It examines ten challenges for parents of teens or preteens and provides many practical solutions that will enable this season to be enjoyed, not merely endured.

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About the Book

“You just dont understand!”
“But all my friends get to…”
“Why cant you trust me?”
“Im not sure I believe…”

We’ve all heard similar phrases. If your kids are approaching the teen years or looking at colleges, this book is for you. It examines ten challenges for parents of teens or preteens and provides many practical solutions that will enable this season to be enjoyed, not merely endured.

The bestselling author of And Then I Had Kids offers encouragement and guidance to parents of teens and preteens. Drawing from her experiences raising five teenagers, she offers parents a unique blend of insight, compassion, and advice. Yates empathizes with parents and, at the same time, helps them consider their teenagers’ perspectives and needs.

The book offers help for parents facing normal teen issues as well as painful crises. End-of-chapter questions make this a good resource for small groups.

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Endorsements
“What a great book on parenting teens! This practical title covers many aspects of guiding teens into adulthood, from setting limits to choosing the right college. It can be digested in a few, delightful sittings. Highly recommend this book to all present and future parents and grandparents of teenagers.”
– Sandra Smith, CBA Marketplace, June 2001
“For years we have looked to Susan Yates for practical wisdom, counsel, and advice as we raise our children. This book is a welcome mentoring manual full of biblical insight.”
– Bob and Mary Ann Lepine, co-hosts, FamilyLife Today
“An authentic, practical book for parents of teens who want to raise them right.”
– Dennis Rainey, executive director of FamilyLife
“Written out of experience, this book speaks to parents of pre-teens and teens. It is an encouraging book because parents see that other caring, Christian parents have problems with their children as they move into the adolescent years. Some of the emotions parents feel are fear, frustration, guilt, loneliness, confusion and the tormenting question of “What if?” As the reader goes from chapter to chapter there is a comforting support – the example of others who have shared the impossible injury and found it possible to work through the experience. The presence and comfort of a close relationship with God gives the assurance each of us needs. Read And Then I Had Teenagers, share it with friends, and enjoy your teenagers.”
– Christian Observer
“If you have teens or preteens, then you definitely need heavy doses of encouragement and hope–and this book is full of those, as well as compassionate advice. Susan, a TCW columnist and five-time veteran of the “teenage wars,” helps guide you through the challenges of living with your kids–from taking advantage of peer pressure to setting limits and letting go.”
– Today’s Christian Woman, July/August 2001
“Susan Alexander Yates’ colorful descriptions of raising her five teenagers reassure readers that she understands the anxiety experienced by parents of adolescents. She offers practical suggestions for dealing with a wide variety of situations from moodiness to morality and from setting limits to letting go and gives guidelines for when to stand firm and when to flex. She handles hot topics with candor from a Christian perspective. Yates encourages readers to focus on the joys and blessings their teenagers bring. She reminds parents that just as God is always ready to renew our relationship with him, we can always improve our relationship with our teenage children.”
– Ellen Javernick, Books Magazine, September 2001
“Yates, author of And Then I Had Kids, tackles the trials of parenting adolescents in this down-to-earth Christian manual. She encourages parents to not just endure, but to enjoy, their children’s teen years. She identifies some common challenges – teens who suddenly become uncommunicative, who reject the faith of their childhood or who are hypercritical of themselves and others. She also discusses “hot topics” such as dating, driving, grades, drugs, TV and movies. What places this parenting guide a cut above is its honesty; Yates is quite frank about the joys and sorrows of raising her own five kids (who were so closely spaced that there was one year when they were all teenagers! Yikes!). Christian parents will appreciate Yates’s warm and wise counsel.”
– Jana Riess, Publisher’s Weekly, July 2001
Look Inside
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the page above are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."


January 20, 2018 ·

Hello, I’m Susan.

Susan Alexander Yates

I’m a wife (of more than 50 years), mom to five children (including a set of twins), and grandmother to 21 (including a set of quadruplets!). My favorite time of the year is when all my kids and grandkids are together for a week of “cousins and family camp” in the foothills of the Shenandoah Mountains of Virginia.

Read more…

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One Word: Warrior One Verse: “The Lord is a One Word:  Warrior 
 
One Verse:

“The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is His name." Exodus 15:3
 
One Thought:

Lord, it is good for me to be reminded that you are a warrior. You are not a pushover, or weak. You are mighty. You fight for me. You defend me. You have my back. You are for me.
One morning recently I watched my dog, Charley, wa One morning recently I watched my dog, Charley, watch me. He noticed my every move. If I looked him in the eye he would hop up and come to me. If I moved he would follow me. He listens for my voice. His greatest joy is for me to communicate with him, to pay attention to him. He loves me unconditionally, even if I’m having a bad day, blown it with a family member or friend, or still have on my smelly sweats! Watching him watch me I think about how he reflects God. Our heavenly Father watches over me. He waits for me to notice Him. He takes great joy when I call out to Him. He loves me no matter what.

“Father thank you for Charley and for using him to remind me how much You rejoice when I pay attention to You. At this moment, You are waiting patiently for me.”
These are my two 8th grade granddaughters (cousins These are my two 8th grade granddaughters (cousins). Last time they were in town we went thrift shopping, and they found a single pair of pajamas that they could both fit into at one time, lol!⁣
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I've been thinking about them a lot lately as I just discovered my old 8th grade diary, which is hysterical. One of the main things I discovered is that even though so much has changed in the many years since I was in 8th grade, there are still lots of things that are the same.⁣
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Read some excerpts and get insights for parenting middle school kids in my blog, "Help for Parents of Middle School Kids: Insights From My 8th Grade Diary."⁣
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Link in bio or go to susanalexanderyates.com/blog
One Word: Sustains One Verse: “Surely God is One Word: Sustains 
 
One Verse:

“Surely God is my help. The Lord is the one who sustains me." Psalm 54:4
 
One Thought:

Father, you sustain me in the tediousness of drudgery or the extreme challenges of life. Whatever I fear - you are sustaining me, my friend, my child. It is your joy to do so!
Getting ready for Holy Week: One of my favorite re Getting ready for Holy Week: One of my favorite reads! I read this every couple of years to prepare for Easter.
Recently I found the most hilarious thing — a di Recently I found the most hilarious thing — a diary I kept when I was in 8th grade! (Swipe right to see a photo of me with my siblings from around that time.)⁣
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Here are a couple excerpts:⁣
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“I’m afraid I’m beginning to like Jimmy but I don’t want to because I really hate him.”⁣
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"Nothing much happened today. Linda and I are real pals now and don’t like Becky. She’s bossy and conceited.”⁣
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"I am a complete failure. I must remember that popularity isn’t everything.”⁣
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I'm still laughing as I read it. But it actually gave me some insights that are helpful with my two 8th grade granddaughters -- and insights you may appreciate if you're the parent of a middle schooler. ⁣
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Get the full scoop on my blog -- link in profile or go to susanalexanderyates.com/blog
One Word: Understands One Verse: “Great is o One Word:  Understands
 
One Verse:

“Great is our Lord and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure." Psalm 147:5
 
One Thought:

When no one else can understand me or my situation, you do completely, O Lord.
I had the best time recently with the Women from A I had the best time recently with the Women from Apostles Anglican Church in Houston! Our retreat was held at the lovely Hill House in the countryside. We were spoiled by incredible food, restored by the bucolic scenery, and spiritually fed by rich fellowship. Thank you Langley and these wonderful women!

 @apostleshouston  @historichillhouse
This is so important to remember when we're strugg This is so important to remember when we're struggling with our family relationships: God created family.⁣
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It was His idea. In the beginning He was part of a family -- Father God, His Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. But that wasn’t enough, so they created man, Adam. Then God said it was not good for man to be alone, so He created Eve as a wife for Adam.⁣
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Through their disobedience sin entered family units. Even so God did not give up on family. Family has continued ever since.⁣
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Family has a broad meaning. We usually think of family as a dad, mom, and kids. But throughout both the Old and New Testaments we see family described as large tribes, small units, particularly the family of the church. A family might include singles as well as married people, young people, and old people.⁣
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God knows that we are not meant to be alone. We need one another. The big concept here can be summarized in a single word: together.⁣
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But that doesn't mean family is easy! It can be incredibly difficult at times. If you're looking for hope or help with your family relationships, check out my blog this week: "Family Can Be Hard: How to Handle Painful Family Relationships."⁣
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Link in bio or go to  susanalexanderyates.com/blog

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