Figuring out the new rules for your social behaviour can be intimidating. When is it acceptable to walk over and say hello? Why do all your comments elicit an eye roll? Don't be caught off guard -- you're transitioning to parenting an adolescent. This may be an awkward phase for you
It may be hard to recognise your Year-7 kid amid all the other Year-7 kids. They walk the hall in pairs. They go to the mall in a herd. They build unfathomably large social media platforms. In Year-7, the best place to be is wherever "everyone" goes.
It's not that what you said this morning doesn't matter, it's just that they don't remember it. And it's not that they don't care about their future, it's just that the present is so much closer. Most Year-7 kids are hyper-aware of their present reality. That means there isn't anything quite so motivating as -- right now. Look for ways to use right now to your advantage, and appeal to their present circumstances.
Your year-7 kid is in a season of personal discovery. Not everyone makes the team. Interests and abilities change. Long-accepted values can come into question. On top of all that, this phase is a time of heightened self-awareness. When you consistently affirm their journey through this sometimes-turbulent season, you help them gain stability.
You help them learn when you... CONNECT THE DOTS.
You capture their heart when you ... PROVIDE STABILITY
You coach their moral abilities when you ... AFFIRM THEIR VALUE
In this phase, your Year 7 kid may be asking some hard questions. Don't be shocked (at least not visibly). Doubt isn't toxic to your Year 7 student's faith; it's part of the process of personalising what they believe. Make your home a safe place for them to ask questions, and show interest in what they are learning.
