Getting Along with Your Parents in the Summer

The sun is shining. Your best friend's pool beckons. Yet suddenly your mom wants to know where you're going, how long you're going to be there, and don't forget you have to mow the lawn, too. Suddenly you feel like she's treating you like a child, and you start an argument.

Summer may be a great three months off of school, but it is often a time of greater strain between parents and their teenagers. Suddenly you're spending more time together, and your parents want to be involved while you want independence. That's when the sparks start flying.

Yet, there are ways to get along with your parents year round. While it is your break from school, you can't dismiss that your parents want to spend time with you. Make an effort to have fun on the family vacation. Spend some time with your parents during your break, maybe even doing a summer devotional as a family.

Sure, we all get frustrated with each other once in a while, but making efforts to understand one another is key to minimizing the summer relationship strain. After all, God calls on us to honor our parents and make them proud.