The Roller Coaster of Adolescent Emotions

If your adolescent years were like mine, you remember riding the roller coaster of emotions. There were high highs and low lows. . . that sometimes alternated in minutes! As I’ve worked with teenagers and studied adolescent development over the years, I’ve learned that my experience is one that’s remained universal for all teenagers. I’ve often referred to the teenage years as the earthquake of adolescence. If you’ve ever seen people try to navigate an earthquake, you know that emotions run strong. We need to develop a sensitivity to this reality and respond to our kids accordingly. Here are three ways to help your kids. First, walk alongside them as their emotions waver, offering wisdom, steadiness, and advice. Second, encourage them to never make an important decision when their emotions are high or when they are low. And third, offer advice and help from God’s Word. A good place to start is by talking about the truths we find in the book of Proverbs.