The Back Door To Your Teen's Heart: Learning What They Need and Helping Them Find It

by Melissa Trevathan, Sissy Goff

To the degree that kids can predict you, they will dismiss you. And, most likely, any of us who have ever lived with, taught, counseled, and loved adolescents have felt the sting of dismissal. It feels like everything we try bounces off the shell these kids develop around 10-12 years of age. Melissa Trevathan and Sissy Goff, both counselors with a combined 50 years of working with kids, lead us on a journey into the hearts of these adolescents. With laughter, Biblical truths, and a simple, but direct honesty, they help us walk through the back door and back into the lives of these kids we love.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Family, Christian

228 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Melissa Trevathan, MRE, is the Executive Director of Daystar Counseling Ministries, which she founded in 1985. A graduate of Southwestern Baptist Seminary, she's written seven books and spoken at churches, schools, and graduate programs across the country.

Reviews

[Karen Lagunowich · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the kind of book that is best read in short bursts with time to chew on thoughts in between. It sat on a little shelf in my bathroom and got picked up every couple of days. Sometimes I’d come out and ask my husband to read a particular section and then we would talk about it as it applied to our situation. Because of the slow nature in which I plodded along, my sons grew from 17 to 19, 16 to 17, and 13 to 14 during the year and a half it took me to read. I had the ability to apply concepts to a wide range of ages and it was so much more beneficial than it would have been if I were to have plowed right through it all.

The chapters are set up with headings and sub-headings to make for appetizer-sized reading sections, or bundle a few together for more of a meal. The authors do a fantastic job balancing their writing between Biblical principles and citing scripture, practical things you can do as a parent, and stories that demonstrate what they are teaching. While I’ve just finished this book, I’m only a few months away from one son leaving for college on the literal day that my daughter becomes a teenager. I think it’s time for a re-read already!

[Starr Cliff · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most encouraging and hopeful books I've read on parenting, with practical application throughout. [I share the authors understanding of the gospel of Jesus and its role in parenting, which is probably a precursor for appreciating this book.] But WOW. I am so very grateful for these authors. I appreciate the many moments I felt like "Whoa...they understand my teenager completely." I borrowed this book from a friend but I'll be purchasing my own copy because I'm sure a re-read is in my future. Probably yearly. :)

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

EXCELLENT resource and encouragement! They present the information in such an easy to understand way. This book reads like a conversation with two friends who truly care about you as a mom and about your child. Every Mom should read this!

[brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful read

I found this book very helpful in dealing with my teenagers and would recommend to to other Christian parent's. It helped me to understand my teenagers better.

[Tabitha Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though this was written in 2001, the authors didn’t date the content. This is a timeless and excellent resource for parents.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent reminders for parents in the thick of raising and relating to adolescents.

[Marsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book for anyone who lives life with teens - parents, Counselors, youth directors, small group leaders. Very validating for me with practical insight into normal teen development as well as being a good reminder for me that I'm not on this parenting journey alone.