My teen won’t talk
I found something by you on the web when I googled “my teen won’t talk to me”. Which of your resources is best suited to help me start over with my teen with communication. I’m heartbroken and know that this isn’t something I can fix. I need God to build it this time and I just don’t know if/how to begin. Vickie
Dear Vickie,
You can begin. It’s never too late, Vickie. I talked with hundreds of teens to write the book, Real Issues, Real Teens: What Every Parent Needs to Know (David C. Cook, 2004). Teens shared that they wanted a relationship with their parents, even if it was broken and even if they weren’t telling their parents that they loved them or needed them.
In the book, you’ll find five things that get in the way of communicating with our teens, and help on how to listen, how to reconnect when communication has completely broken down, how to help your teen in their faith, and what the word “family” means to this generation, and much more.
I think it’s a great resource for you and I pray you will follow up once you read it. I’d love to stay in touch.
You can order it through paypal (my ID is tseller@daretobelieve.org) for $14 including shipping or send me a check (e-mail me for address).
Posted by Suzie @
10:51 am |
Today on Christian Momlogic
October 9, 2008 | momlogic
Fun giveaway and interview:
(Once you join Momlogic, click on groups and join us at Christian Momlogic for interviews, parenting tips, giveaways, but most importantly community among women of faith.)
Posted by Suzie @
10:51 am |
Only by your power
I’m self-sufficient. Independent to a fault. It’s the way I was made, I believe. It’s a good thing. And yet there are times I have not had the answers or known what to do. My strength. My faith. It wasn’t enough.
Only by your power can we push back our enemies. Only in your name can we trample our foes. Psalm 44:5
I image David as I read this chapter today. He is weary, discouraged, overwhelmed. He is in that “I believe; help my unbelief” stage of life. He’s a warrior, a king. Yet it feels like God is nowhere to be found.
It’s a vulnerable moment. I felt it when Ryan was hit by a drunk driver at 15. Again when Richard was struggling with his job a few years ago and the man I loved seemed to be slipping away, leaving an unhappy stranger in his place.
“Where are you, God?”
You see, the day before I felt God. My faith was as close as a whisper. I turned and it was there, but not in these times. I dug down deep and found faith, but no feelings to accompany it.
Did God see us? Did God know what was going on?
Looking back, I see God clearly. But I also see me, searching, hoping, clinging to my faith. I felt weak.
But it was enough because only by His power could I take the next step. It wasn’t about my strength. Only in His name could I wake up and know that I wasn’t alone.
Sometimes I long for God and today is one of those days. To connect with Him. To feel that quiet strong presence. To carve away all the complexities of faith and simply be His. Do you ever feel that way? This is my prayer today:
Send out your light and truth; let them guide me. Let them lead me to your holy mountain, to the place where you live. There I will go to the alter of God, to God–the source of all my joy. Psalm 43:3-4
Posted by Suzie @
10:17 am |
Momlogic Posts: Are you a Superwoman?
Please check out my posts this week on Christian momlogic:
(Once you join Momlogic, click on groups and join us at Christian Momlogic for interviews, giveaways, but most importantly community among women of faith.)
Posted by Suzie @
9:29 am |
What a weekend!
I’m tired, people. But I had a great weekend. It was my first experience to speak at MOPS Intl. I hope it’s not my last. They really care about the 5,000 women who arrived in Dallas, TX, ministering to them spiritually and also practically as a parent, but also as a person. But the conference isn’t the whole ministry. They minister to 100,000+ women all over the U.S. through small groups in churches, communities, in prisons, the military, and to teens moms as well.
I loved speaking, but also listening. Julie Barnhill keynoted, sharing how motherhood is a lot like the rides you see at the fair. She had the house rolling in laughter. A young mom spoke, sharing her dreams of being a mom one day only to lose it when her young husband was shot in Wedgewood Baptist church a few years ago, but how God was faithful during the hardest years of her life.
From laughter to tears.
Jaci Valesquez and her husband Nic Gonzalez ministered in music. She’s super tiny, and fun. She and her husband bantered on stage. She introduced her young son, pulling the little guy with the pacifier on stage for the first time in his life. He tried to grab the mike the whole time. Another singer in the family? Hmm. Who knows. : )
Erwin McManus spurred the women to run after their passions. Avalon, Kim Hill, and others led them in to worship. Lynn Spears, mom of Brittney, shared the love of a mom and how difficult it can be when your children are in the spotlight. Elisa Morgan, who led MOPS for 20 years encouraged the women that being a mom changes the world one child at a time. There were other great speakers, and each one brought something unique to the women. (more…)
Posted by Suzie @
10:30 am |
Update on Impact for Life Book Drive
Mel Goebel, Director of Impact for Life, was excited to receive 100 copies of The Mom I Want to Be:Rising Above Your Past to Give Your Kids a Great Future to distribute through the Library of Hope–sending books to women’s prisons all over the nation. This will put 100 copies in 100 different prisons. But I’m praying for more.
My prayer is 1,000 books. Seems impossible, but it’s not!
I am able to purchase them at a great discount by turning down the royalties so 100% of the donations go toward placing the book into the hands of women who desire a second chance with their children, who are asking God if He sees them, and who desire healing from a painful past.
Will you join me in this drive? You can donate through paypal (donate to tseller@daretobelieve.org) and 100% goes to the drive. $7 buys one book. $10 buys 2. $15 buys 3. $275 buys a whole case!
I’m not good at raising money. I don’t like selling candles, Avon (though I did once to go on a missions trip), candy bars, or anything else. I am terrible at it and yet I love what Impact for Life is doing so I’m excited to ask you to join me. Thank you to those who helped with the first 100. I’m humbled and grateful!
Want to check it out for yourself or donate directly to them?
Posted by Suzie @
6:36 am |
On My Way to D-town
This weekend I’m speaking at MOPS Intl. in Grapevine, TX just outside of Dallas at the Gaylord Convention Center. This is my first time to connect with MOPS Intl, but I love what they do for moms of preschoolers (thus the name, MOPS) and have spoken at smaller MOPS groups in churches.
It’s my first time to speak on identity and I’m praying that the conversation between me and these women is a good one, as we talk about who we are, whose we are, how to take the next step, what it means to be a woman of faith and how that affects our relationships, where we fit (instead of fitting in), and a little thing called body image.
There’s another bonus on this trip! I get to hang out with my daughter, Leslie, and my SIL Stephen. Yay! We are going to the Texas State Fair (pictures, I promise). I plan to ride rides, see sights, and eat at least one ginourmous caramel apple! Leslie and Stephen just bought a house near downtown Dallas and I get to see it. They are excited for me to be their first overnight guest, and I’m pumped to be there. Leslie and I will do a little estate sale hopping and antiquing. She’s hoping to find a steal good buy on an antique desk that she and Stephen can renovate.
How is life? Busy, and sweet. This weekend revs up my speaking season. I’ve had a solid month at home and lots of writing accomplished, but I need people, people! It’s time to hit the road. I still have a chapter to finish on my novel, lots of Christian Writers’ Guild assignments to tackle (as they come in), one Real Life Downloaded teen curriculum to write, blogging at Momlogic and Real Teen Faith, but I’ll do that in between sharing the wonderful message of God’s grace with women this month.
I feel utterly blessed. The economy is tight, and the Eller family budget is just as tight as it has ever been, but I have shelter, food, a church family, a husband that I like a lot, some cool kids, health, and beautiful flowers outside my door that bring me pleasure every single day.
Who needs more than that?
Posted by Suzie @
9:25 am |
Momlogic this week!
I’ve been blogging at Christian Momlogic and the discussions have been great. Check out these posts:
- Taking the Long View of Parenting - Do you ever feel like having a meltdown when your child is having his or her own? Do you want to do a smackdown when your teen says, “I hate you”? What is the key to long-term parenting when parenting “in the moment” isn’t cutting it.
- You Have Cancer! - Interview with author, speaker, and BC survivor, Connie Pombo. She shares how a battle with cancer prompted her to pursue her passion, make a bucket list, and run after life. And there’s a GIVEAWAY!
Posted by Suzie @
4:11 am |
