In our society today, it’s not uncommon to see many children being raised in single parent homes–oftentimes with the mother as the head of household.  Being a single mom is without a doubt one of the most challenging positions a woman can find herself in–especially during the teen years.  Helping teens navigate through the pressures of life can be a daunting task for a single mom when their dad is not present in their lives. But with God’s help, it can be accomplished!

The Traps Satan Sets for Our Teens

Teenagers are often bombarded by social media, peer pressure, drugs, sex, and a host of other traps Satan sets to capture their hearts and minds. Without a strong godly man in the household to safeguard and protect children, sometimes teenagers will succumb to the pressures, and yield to the temptations.

In the end, some teens grow up with bitterness and resentment which ultimately causes them to lose their focus on Jesus. Instead of living in God’s perfect will, they choose their own way–a life far away from the Lord.

With all the things young people are up against on a daily basis, how can a single mom help her teen flourish and survive through difficult situations? Will she be able to effectively help her teen navigate through all the negative influences of this world without a dad actively involved in their lives? The answer is yes, but only by the grace of God.

3 Practical Ways You Can Help Your Teen Navigate Through Life’s Difficulties Without a Dad

In this post, I will share with you three ways you can help your teen navigate through the pressures of life without a dad.

1. Teach Your Teen To Seek the Lord

I know this sounds like old hat to some, but the truth is…we need to teach our teens ON PURPOSE (with conscious effort) to seek the Lord through daily Bible reading and prayer.

Prayer is talking to God, and Bible reading is God talking to us. Teenagers without a father physically and emotionally present in their lives need to know that God is their heavenly Father. He is ALWAYS there, even when their earthly father forsake them (Psalm 27:10). They must be aware of God’s ever presence, power, and provisions.

Most teens (or adults for that matter) are not naturally inclined to seek the Lord. They need a loving, godly mom to steer them in the right direction. Be that mom for your teen!😊

2. Learn To Love Your Teen When They Are Unlovable

As a mom of teens, I’ve had my fair share of joyous days with my teenagers as I’ve watched them grow and mature. But I can honestly admit that there have been times of great grief as I’ve watched them make very unwise choices.

There were times when they became most unlovable in this mama’s eyes, and yet, I still had to choose to love them in spite of those decisions. This can be quite difficult when your heart is broken because of their behavior, especially when you know you’ve tried your best (and failed some) to bring them up in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6).

God wants us to show our wayward children Agape love–to love them when they are indeed, unlovable. After all, isn’t that how God deals with us? He loves us just because–not because of what we’ve done or haven’t done, but because of His son Jesus. He loves us when we are unlovable. Thank you Lord!

God has convicted me so much concerning this. I’m asking Him daily to help me to love my children with His love–to treat my children with a loving touch, gentle speech, and a heart of compassion. This kind of love does not condone my children’s sin by any means. It rather helps me to look beyond their faults, and love them in a way that leads them to developing a closer walk with the Lord.

3. Always Be Willing To Lend A Listening Ear

This has not been easy for me. I have always been the type of mom that would make it known that I run the show…”I am the boss. You do as I say, be quiet and listen to me!” This kind of parenting is not all negative. Children must be taught boundaries in the sense that you are the parent, and they are the child–not the other way around.

I have found out over the years that being a single mom is tough, and it is not for the wimpy. You have to have some really tough skin when you are raising kids alone, especially if you are raising boys (God graciously blessed me with 3).😲❤️

Standing your ground as a parent is highly important, but you have to be willing to listen to your child’s cry (plea for help when facing temptations, pressures, etc.). There have been many times where I have been shown by my heavenly Father that I needed to listen to what my child was saying about a tough situation they were facing.

I needed to be willing to lend them a listening ear. In doing so, I found out just how much that particular child was hurting–often as a result of the loneliness they have felt by not having their dad in their lives. Sure, they see him from time to time, but not having him involved in their lives has caused feelings of hurt and pain.

If your teen is willing to open up and talk to you about private issues, count that as a true blessing! Be willing to lend a listening ear to them when they need you most. They will always remember how much you cared for years to come.

Summing It All Up!

Although the teen years have not been my favorite years of child rearing, it has brought me much growth in the Lord. I find myself on my knees a lot more now for my children than I did when they were little.

If you are a single mom, please take this post to heart. I realize there may be some form of bitterness against your former spouse as a result of a separation or divorce. Or maybe you’re a single mom due to the death of your beloved spouse, and you find yourself even bitter with God because of it.

Cast it all aside for your sake, and for the sake of your children.  Learn to love, forgive, and be an example to your children.  If you still have young children, now is the time to get your mind focused on your calling at this stage in your life. Your children will be teenagers before you know it!

Before they reach the teen years, you want to be able to help them navigate through all the pressures they will face. I’m convinced that our teens can be successful without a dad if we obey God and raise them for His glory. The choice is ours. What will you choose today?

Are you a single mom of teens? Do you find it difficult to raise your teens without a dad? Does your teen have a dad who is actively involved in his/her life and is making a positive impact on their upbringing? Share your thoughts with me in the comments below. I would love to hear from you! Until next time…Happy Parenting!❤