Teenagers know everything….or do they??!
When, as parents, we invest the time in understanding what makes our kids ‘tick’ – understanding the deeper inner-workings of their personalities, their relational bents, their passions, obsessions, directions, and other inmost thoughts…
THEN we learn how to parent them from the side. Frontal assaults on teenagers are always met with forceful resistance. It’s their DNA. They’re wired to push back, seek independence, do it on their own.
#shrewdbook by Rick Lawrence showed me some deep, applicable parenting guidance….and it’s not even a parenting book!! Knowing 
‘how things work’ with each of your kids helps you craft a parenting style specific for each of them. Using that discernment and wisdom provides ample chance for coming at them ‘from the side’ – eliminating the ‘charge’ mentality of a direct confrontation by mom or dad and the ‘fight or flight’ (usually fight) mentality of a teenager who feels cornered.
Parents of teenagers should read Shrewd – because if parenting a teenager doesn’t require a shrewd response, nothing does!
Like or comment on this blog for a chance to win a copy – or make mention on my Facebook or Twitter! Or pick up a copy right here – because Lord knows the faster we get good parenting counsel, the better of everyone will be!!
Everyone's Called to Youth Ministry 
This definitely applies to my kids. I grew up with my parents confronting me from the “front” and not the “side.” I hated it … and so do my kids when I do the same thing to them. My daughter is different from my son. Both of them need to be dealt with differently, and loved on differently. I need to remember this while disciplining and rearing them.
Thanks for the reminder, Darren (and Rick).