The Perfect Teen is a blog that seeks to shed light on the drive from innocence to independence.  It is not a how too.  Although from time to time practical advice is important and will be shared.  The goal is to give parents a clear lens from which to view the teenage world, their parenting, their kids, and the journey before them.  Good thinking helps promote wise actions and produces “the perfect teenager.”

There are no perfect teens. No one is perfect. There are however really outstanding boys and girls who will become, despite the pitfalls of adolescence, outstanding men and women. Our view is that adolescence is not to be feared, but embraced. It is a battle. It is a battle in the best sense and parents need to be prepared to be on the front lines. We shouldn’t just “make it through” with our kids, but help give them an outstanding start as they move toward adulthood, from innocence to independence. https://theperfectteen.net/the-perfect-teenager/

Parents struggle, are confused, make large and small mistakes and still their teens can be “perfect.”  The perfect teenager is not mistake free. There are no truly perfect teens. Neither are there perfect parents. In fact teenagers are bruised and scarred just like the rest of us.  However, there is something different about “the perfect teen” than others.  They have navigated the adolescent years going from innocence to independence at the proper rate.  They entered high school fairly innocent and leave with independence – aware, confident, tested not broken, and ready to move forward.  These teens typically have parents equipped with wisdom and emotional strength as guides. 

We stress the phrase “proper rate.”  Teens who go to slow can’t function. They deal with stress, fear and anxiety in college and beyond.  They have been sheltered.  Teens who go too fast are broken and take that brokenness into their relationships, families and jobs.  They have been neglected. 

The perfect teen comes from imperfect parents.

We hope you enjoy the articles, video casts, and recommended reading from a variety of voices. Our goal is to set the table for a positive conversation about teenagers, their world and their journey.