{"id":2552,"date":"2012-10-19T15:17:46","date_gmt":"2012-10-19T20:17:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/?p=2552"},"modified":"2013-01-24T20:52:01","modified_gmt":"2013-01-25T01:52:01","slug":"gch-pots-parents-of-teens-an-introduction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/2012\/10\/19\/gch-pots-parents-of-teens-an-introduction\/","title":{"rendered":"GCH: POTs….. Parents of Teens (an introduction)"},"content":{"rendered":"

This blog is specifically for parents of teens… <\/span><\/h2>\n

but will be a great resource for any parent.<\/span><\/h2>\n

I am Megan Smidt\u00a0and I am \u00a0a co-founder of this ministry, Girlfriends Coffee Hour, and I also lead our ministry for teen girls called GCH:decaf.<\/p>\n

I am an unlikely parent. I have not given birth to any children, but I have 5 that legally and lovingly\u00a0call me \u201cmom.\u201d I always thought God wanted to use me for His purposes in working with kids, but he has shown me very clearly over the past few years that He needs me with their leaders and parents, specifically, to further His Kingdom.<\/p>\n

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My Kids<\/p><\/div>\n

So, I have 5 kids ages 14-21 and I volunteer every week with the high school students at my local church. I have been a parent of teenagers for 8 years already and I have another 6 years to go, God willing. I love them\u2026 and I love the amazing journey that each teenaged relationship I have brings my way. I am honored to be able to walk along side\u00a0 you in this season and I pray that we learn a lot from each other.<\/p>\n

As you can imagine, I also know the added stresses of raising teens in a blended family situation. I get that\u2026 even though I am the only one who blended into our family. My teens are living through and surviving abandonment, neglect, anger, disappointment, failure, psychological sickness and abuse, and other pain that comes from being a child of divorce and being raised primarily by someone other than their biological parent.<\/p>\n

I am a Certified Christian Life Coach who specializes in relationships\u2026. And I really love people…. especially encouraging people\u00a0in their walk with the Lord.<\/p>\n

God has shown me it is important that, as a ministry, we not just be there for teen girls, but that we help bring healing to families through also offering support to their parents. My prayer is that GCH will be an instrument to help families become more fully devoted followers for God and, in turn, thrive in this season. I thank you for being on this journey with me.<\/p>\n

I do not believe that kids need to wait until they are older to do something big for God\u2026. They can do it NOW. Understanding their own unique and divine mission is a key step in them accomplishing big things for God. Being a parent myself, I know how important it is as a parent to be there for your children to give them much-needed motivation and encouragement to help a teen take a step towards God, especially being in a fallen world that is trying to get your teen to step away from Him every day.<\/p>\n

I will be starting out this blog by writing a few times a week here about how you can help your teen discover God\u2019s mission for their unique life purpose. I pray this\u00a0blog will change your relationship with your teenager and help you prepare them for a meaningful life that God has so divinely created them for. I plan on helping you have conversations with your teens about such things as….<\/p>\n