Today’s parents want a deeper relationship with their teen than they had with their own parents. It’s well-intentioned. But taken too far, the outcome will disappoint you.

My dad, like yours, was focused on providing for his family. We always had food on the table and a roof over our head. But the relational side was more than lacking.

Then the ‘60s and ‘70s came along. We swooned over lyrics like “All You Need Is Love”, and started applying them to our parenting styles.

Neither extreme is good for our kids. So if you’ve allowed the pendulum too swing too far, it’s not too late to find a healthy balance between authority and relationship.

Love your teen. But don’t cross that slippery boundary and become his friend alone. To hold his heart, you need to remain his parent.

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