RC Leadership and Parenting Teenagers
I’m interested in how people have thought about their Co-Counseling leadership, and the time they put into RC, when parenting teenagers.
I have two children. My husband and I are both RC leaders and inevitably lead and are invited to many RC events. This is in addition to the discharging we do to (try to) keep up with everything.
We had to think about this when our children were younger, but it’s different now. They are more independent. They get home later and stay up later. They have homework to do and friends they are in touch with when they are home. I think so much about parenting a teenager is just being there, being part of whatever they are doing, listening whenever they want to talk.
I grew up in RC. When my mother taught an RC class, I made my own dinner and watched television. I said “hi” to the people in her class as they came in and “goodbye” as they left. I occasionally taught them a game or talked to them about young people’s liberation. There was only one class a week. There weren’t so many workshops! My mother worked hard to be available when I was available, but I don’t think she had to figure that out in terms of her RC participation.
I haven’t wanted to pass by the resource generated by being in a workshop or class. However, my children and I also generate resource when we are together with wide open time. So I am now much more “picky” [particular] about how I spend my time.
If you have been or currently are the parent of a teenager, I would like to hear your thoughts about this.
USA
Reprinted from the RC e-mail discussion list for leaders of parents
(Present Time 206, January 2022)