withing, faithing, adulting--a users guide

Kids! They don’t come with an instruction manual, and even if they did, every few years it seems like they have become a totally new person, a new model, and a new manual is needed. Kara Powell and Steven Argue have done a pretty good job of consolidating some of those manuals to help parents as they navigate the everchanging waters of toddler to adulthood. It would be easier if every child were the same, grew the same way, met the same milestones, had the same questions and issues at the same time and matured on a schedule. Easier but nowhere near as much fun.

                Since I parent only one child, I wasn’t quite as aware of how different siblings can be, (I’m one of 4 so should have known!) so this book was an enjoyable read. Growing With: Every Parent’s Guide to Helping Teenagers and Young Adults Thrive in Their Faith, Family and Future. (Baker Books, 2019) has as a central premise that parents to journey alongside their children through the different stages of maturing, stages that they call “learners” “explorers” and “focusers”.  And as the child’s role changes, so does that of the parent, as we shift from “teacher” to “guide” to “resource”.

                One of the things that most impressed me about this book, is how they use common words in a new way: nouns such as adult and faith become the verbs adulting and faithing.  Even the preposition ‘with’ becomes a verb, as we learn about ‘withing’.

                The authors, both on staff at Fuller University, each have 3 children with whom they ‘with’ on a regular basis, and it’s obvious that their knowledge of the subject comes from personal experience as well as research, and years of study, writing, teaching and lecturing.

                If you’re looking for the quick and easy answer, this may not be the book for you. If you’re willing to dig deep into the book, take time to digest it, and then apply it in your own family, you may have found the answers to your questions about dealing with teens and young adults.

                I received a copy of this book from the publisher as part of their bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review.

                5/5