Raising teens is my Mount Everest these days. Right after we pass one mountain of an issue, there is only a short break, before having to climb the next one. I’m winded and exhausted. I know I am not alone, many of us are scaling the mountain. We are hoping and praying the known dangers won’t take our kids down…

Bullying

Peer pressure

Drugs, alcohol, sex

Social media obsessions

These are very real issues our teens face every day. We try to protect them. Try to foresee the dangers and put up warning signs and detours. But there are also the unknown dangers…the ones we aren’t privy to, the ones they don’t share. I take comfort knowing their Heavenly Father is always aware.

Whether as a married mom, single-mom or adoptive mom, I’ve had to co-parent with multiple other parties in the past. It was always a challenge. Over the last couple years, the other parties have ceased involvement, or been removed by the courts. It was only then that I realized I had the best co-parent ever…God!

He loves my kids more than I do!

He created them and knows them far better than I ever will.

He always understands what is best for them.

He sees every decision they make.

These are three of the ways I rely on God to co-parent with me:

Help Making Decisions

One of the hardest parts of single parenting is being the lone decision-maker. Not having someone else to shoulder the responsibility of decisions that impacted my children felt like a heavy burden. Even if we do have a partner or co-parent to help make decisions, at times the doubt about whether we made the right choice can steal our joy.

It’s easy to forget that we are not alone. But, Jesus has told us…

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:29-30

When I began realizing that Jesus was just as invested in my kids as I was, I started to rely on Him to take on the burdens. I began trusting that once I gave a decision to Him, He was involved AND carrying the heavier load. I prayed and took action. Expecting, not just hoping, that God would remove the wrong options and highlight the right ones.

I rest in the knowledge that there is no decision I can make, that God can’t fix. He’s proven it time and time again to me. This truth applies to my parenting as well. I believe in God’s sovereignty. Raising three girls is too big a job for just me…and He knows that. I trust He will intervene when necessary.

When They Need Correction

My daughters are wonderful young ladies, but they are far from perfect. They need discipline, and my parenting tends to fall more heavily on the grace side.

Many more times than I would like to admit, I don’t “see” the problems. In God’s graciousness to me, He helps reveal the areas my daughters are concealing from my view. The secret sins He sees that I don’t. There is no prayer in my life that gets a quicker response from God than, “Please reveal what my children are hiding. Help them be caught in every lie they live or tell.” And then once He reveals the truth, “Help me to discipline them in a way that gets to their heart.”

Recently, God led me to discover some lies and deception going on with two of my daughters. Although I was heartbroken, I was not alone. I could feel God revealing and repairing an area that needed correction. Remember, God sees everything our kids do, and He also wants to bring them to repentance. Partner with Him, and be willing to face the sometimes-ugly truth.

Financial Provision

Providing for growing children is not for the faint of heart. It’s a never-ending source of need; shoes, clothes, sports, and of course…makeup. Yes…I have teen girls. J It’s a good thing our Heavenly Father has limitless resources and He’s not afraid to use them! God has provided time and time again for my daughters. One of my favorites was when a popular Broadway musical was in town. I would never have been able to afford the tickets, but my daughter had a secret wish to go. We received a call from friends who had a last minute cancelation for a ticket they had and were wondering if my daughter would like to go…as their guest. My mother heart exploded. Really God?! Do you really care that she gets to go to a musical? Not a need, just a want? Answer. Yes. Yes He does. He does want to give His children good gifts.

God has provided for all of my children’s needs, and often given us special gifts on top of that. He’s done it so many times, I live a life free from worry about finances.

When I am actively co-parenting with God it’s easy to know whom to thank when there is a parenting-win.

I encourage you, whether single or married, to see God as a co-parent. Consult Him, trust Him, and expect Him to show up…He will!