Mom, Dad, if your child is approaching the teen years, brace yourself! Because the reality is, the stress of dealing with a troubled teen can tear a family apart.

When teens begin to struggle, their problems put pressure on everyone in the family—especially mom and dad. So consider these practical steps to protect your marriage in the years to come.

First, see conflict with your kids as something you must tackle as a team.

Second, be intentional about sharing your feelings with each other.

And finally, build in some time to have fun. Get away and laugh a little.

Getting through the hard times won’t be easy. But when you stick together, even the greatest struggle can have the power to strengthen your marriage.

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