Copyright Page
2016 by Dr. Jeramy and Jerusha Clark
Published by Baker Books
a division of Baker Publishing Group
PO Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 495166287
www.bakerbooks.com
Ebook edition created 2016
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recordingwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
ISBN 978-1-4934-0143-7
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com
Scripture quotations labeled ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2011
Scripture quotations labeled Message are from THE MESSAGE. Copyright by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Scripture quotations labeled NASB are from the New American Standard Bible, copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)
Scripture quotations labeled NET are from the NET Bible, copyright 19962006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations labeled NLT are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations labeled Phillips are from The New Testament in Modern English, revised editionJ. B. Phillips, translator. J. B. Phillips 1958, 1960, 1972. Used by permission of Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc.
Dedication
To our precious teenage daughters,
Jocelyn Alexandra,
creator of fabulous fan fiction, gorgeous dress designs, and incredible artwork. The moment you entered the world you changed our lives forever and for better. PS: Though we would miss you like crazy, youd be a great companion for The Doctor.
Jasmine Alyssa,
amazing gymnast, fantastic spa proprietor, and mastermind behind the Bubble Theory. Teenagers are like bubbles. If you touch them too hard, they will pop. If the bubble pops, all their anger is let out on you. If you continue to guide the bubble and lead it in the right direction, out of harms way, it will continue to bubble and grow.
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Foreword by Dr. Earl Henslin
Preface
Introduction
1. You Dont Understand
2. Leave Me Alone
3. But Why ?
4. Im So Bored
5. That Could Be Epic
6. But Nothing Happened
7. What Do You Want Me to Say?
8. Why Are You Freaking Out?
9. Why Are You Looking at Me Like That?
10. Arent You Sorry?
11. Whats Wrong with My Friends?
12. Its Not Like Were Getting Married
13. This Is Sooooo Awkward
14. But Its Mine
16. Its Not That Bad
17. How Do I Know Thats True?
18. Its Not My Fault
19. I Cant Take This!
20. Im So Tired
21. Im Starving
22. Whats Wrong with Me?
23. Its Not All I Think About!
24. I Feel So Ugly
25. I Hate My Life
26. What If... ?
Appendix A: The Truth about Substance Abuse
Appendix B: The Truth about Self-Injury
Appendix C: The Truth about Suicide
Acknowledgments
Notes
About the Authors
Back Ad
Back Cover
Foreword
Your Teenager Is Not Crazy is the first book in the Christian market to so thoughtfully integrate the latest in neuroscience with Gods timeless truth. It is a landmark book that will help parents make sense out of the changes happening in their teens as they mature. What is so wonderful about Your Teenager Is Not Crazy is that it is born out of the Clarks years of daily ministry and a passion to help teenagers, including their own, grow deeper in Christ while learning to live healthy livesbody, soul, and spirit. Jeramy and Jerusha help parents understand that they cannot separate adolescent brain development from soul development. If the brain of a teen is not working right, their spiritual development will be hampered. What is exciting to me is the emphasis on helping parents understand the remarkable uniqueness of their childs brain. What works to motivate one teen will not work to motivate another teen. Yet if you understand the uniqueness of how God has wired your teen and learn to work with that child as God created them, you can help them optimize and reach the potential God has wired into them. This book will help you do just that.
You will enjoy learning a great deal as you read through each chapter. Your Teenager Is Not Crazy will deepen your understanding of the inner world of your teen. An added benefit: it will help you make sense out of your own adolescent years! Tough issues like sexuality are addressed in an insightful manner that will help bring clarity to what can be a confusing and bewildering time for both parent and teen. As you read this book, you will become excited and passionate about the reality that God has uniquely wired your teens brain for a relationship with Him. Youll also be excited and empowered by the practical strategies that Jeramy and Jerusha share.
Your Teenager Is Not Crazy is not only a book youll enjoy reading; youll actually want to buy it by the case to give to youth leaders, friends, and relatives! God will use it to help guide you through the exciting adolescent years of your teens developing brainwhich means your teens developing soul. You will be grateful for the time you invest reading this groundbreaking book and the steps you take in implementing the insights and practical strategies.
Blessings!
Dr. Earl Henslin, PsyD,
author of This Is Your Brain on Joy
and This Is Your Brain on Love
Preface
If you ask parents to describe the teenage years, words like crazy , confusing , frustrating , scary , and out of control will likely crop up, as mightthough perhaps less frequentlydescriptors such as exciting , adventurous , and exhilarating . Research indicates that regardless of socioeconomic background, race, or location, parents of teens experience a relatively consistent set of emotions that leave many perplexed and exhausted.
Perform a similar exercise by inviting emerging adults to describe the years of their adolescence, and a fascinating trend emerges. The very same adjectivesdescribing the good, the bad, and the totally bafflingare used by those recently in the throes of their formative years to depict the tumult of their teenage lives.
A myriad of explanations has been set forth to decipher this perplexing phenomenon: adolescents seem out of their mind at some point, if not for the entirety of their teenage years. Vibrant one moment and sullenly apathetic the next, engaging in risky and impulsive behaviors one day and espousing profound reflections on life, relationships, and faith the next, teenagers confound parents, who wonder, Who is this alien in my childs skin? Why did she stop smiling? Why is he angry all the time? What were they thinking? What in the world do I do ?