How do I handle my teenager questioning everything? | DadHQ

How do I handle my teenager questioning everything?

4d ago1 min read

My 14 year old came home and said he doesn't think he believes in God anymore. Says his friends at school don't and he's tired of feeling different. I was raised to just tell him he's wrong but something in me knows that won't work. I want him to have real faith, not just inherited faith. How do I navigate this without either shutting him down or abandoning what we believe? Looking for some wisdom here.

6 comments113 views

Comments(6)

SSteve H.Regular3d ago

This is the age where they start questioning everything and that's healthy. I'd listen more than you talk. Ask him what he believes instead of telling him what to believe. The friendship influence is real but he'll figure it out.

MMarcusNew Dad4d ago

This is actually pretty normal at 14. His brain is developing and he's thinking for himself now. Listen more than you talk. Ask him what he's thinking, why his friends are saying what they're saying. Don't shut it down right away.

JJayNew Dad4d ago

My mom freaked out when I said this stuff at that age. What I needed was someone to take it seriously and talk through it with me, not lecture me. He's probably working through a lot of new ideas right now.

RRobertNew Dad4d ago

Don't panic. Teens go through this and it doesn't mean he's lost forever. Keep the lines of communication open and don't make it about winning an argument. My stepdad got super defensive when I questioned stuff and it just pushed me away.

TTravis N.Regular3d ago

Honestly this is the time to ask good questions instead of providing answers. What does he actually believe in? Why is he thinking this way? Get curious instead of defensive.

DDavid K.New Dad3d ago

Mine's doing the same thing at 13 and it honestly freaked me out at first. But I realized he's just thinking for himself which is actually what we want right? We had some good conversations about faith without me trying to convince him of anything. Let him ask questions.