A Review: Family Toolbox

Umm. My son is going to be a teenager. NEXT MONTH!

I'm in denial, really.

For one, I am not old enough to be the mother of a teenager (a-hem) and it was just yesterday that I was snapping up Josiah into his cute little onesies.

It's not that I dread the passing of time. This isn't my first rodeo with teenagers. My husband and I spent 7 rewarding and fruitful years as youth pastors before senior pastoring. They were great years...they were also challenging years.

But I haven't actually parented one (a teenager) yet.

I was excited to be able to part of the launch team for the Family Toolbox. It is a resource for teens and their parents from the National Center for Biblical Parenting. 

It really is easy peasy to use. 

I received a DVD and workbook for review. There are 8 lessons in the package. 

• Lesson 1 - It starts with the Heart
• Lesson 2 - Following Instructions Well 
• Lesson 3 - Handling Pressure without losing your cool
• Lesson 4 - Value of Correction
• Lesson 5 - The importance of Responsibility
• Lesson 6 - Accepting No as an answer
• Lesson 7 - Dealing with your own Anger
• Lesson 8 - Consider the Needs of Others

During the course of the lessons we learn these 16 Life Principles. 

1. Be Respectful Even When It's Hard.
2. Develop Internal Motivation
3. Develop Healthy Habits for Following Instructions
4. Look for Ways to Contribute to Family Life.
5. Solve Problems Instead of Generating Conflict.
6. Instead of Sarcasm Develop the Skills of a Peacemaker
7. Learn to Value Correction.
8. Apologize Well.
9. Develop a Plan for Being Responsible.
10. Take Responsibility for Your Mistakes.
11. Train Yourself to Accept No as an Answer.
12. Avoid Arguing.
13. View Your Family as a Team and Look for Ways to Work Together.
14. Learn Self-Control to Manage Anger.
15. Practice Flexibility When Plans Change.
16. Learn to Handle Unfairness Well.

The DVD segments are divided into two parts. The first part is for parents only. This is a 10-minute talk with host Gerado Davila with Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN. They give practical advice to help us parents deal with these tricky topics. 

The second part is a 2-minute dramatized interaction between families. 

The Workbook contains material providing discussion questions, etc. There is a parent page, discussion questions, biblical references and more. 

I sat down and watched the parenting segments. Ouch. It isn't that the segments are harsh or unforgiving. They are extremely helpful and encouraging. 

I just needed to hear some things...

The first lesson deals with issues of the heart. Mama's heart needs to some work, as well. We are not perfect parents, by any means. Thank goodness for God's grace!

And thank goodness He equips us with wisdom like the kind found in the Family Toolbox. 

Just breathe in and out. And take one day at a time. 

There are a few ways you can purchase the Family Toolbox. I have even used a lesson last week in our Teen Small Group. 

I can't tell you what a blessing it is to have this awesome resource as part of my own personal toolbox.