Being a mother is the most rewarding job any woman can do. Between the carpools, extracurriculars, and social calendars, moms try their best to do the most for their children. In a world where there are a lot of new and negative influences, it is important for mothers to step in and be the proponents of truth as their children navigate a culture of pride and self-seeking.
In particular, the adolescent years are difficult, and Jenny Triplett wanted to make sure she was prepared for this new season of parenting a preteen.
“The world of preteens is something that is all new to me,” Jenny said. “I’m not too old—I’m 38—but some things were definitely different for me growing up. I wanted to know how to approach things like influencers, dating, and all of those things.”
Chasing Questions, an Equip Group led by Leslie Hollowell, was created last fall with the hopes of equipping mothers of preteens with answers for when they are asked probing questions.
“If you aren’t the one who’s answering their questions, they’ll find someone else who will, and that person might not be giving them the truth,” Leslie said.
Jenny knew this class was an answer to prayer and would help her be the one her kids can run to when life gets confusing.
“Chasing Questions gave me the right words to use with my daughter when we were walking through certain things—words that I probably wouldn’t have been able to come up with on my own,” Jenny said. “With my preteen, I am still learning on the daily, but I do feel equipped for this season.”
As Jenny continued to sift through the resources provided by Chasing Questions, not only did she receive practical tips for how to communicate with her preteen, but also she realized that the most important part of parenting was leaning into her childlike faith and deepening her own relationship with the Father.
“I have to be concentrated on my walk of faith because if I’m secure on a solid foundation, then when the roller-coaster of emotions of a preteen comes—which is going to happen—I know I can stand firm and know the truth.” Jenny said.
Jenny fell in love with the small group of mothers who shared the same desire of raising their preteens while growing in God’s Word. The struggles of a parent can sometimes make someone feel isolated, but Jenny found peace knowing that she could share her burdens with the group and be poured into by the other moms. Because of the love and care she received from her group, Jenny was compelled to share that love with other people in the community.
“Once you have been loved, you want to love, and once you have been cared for, you want to care for someone,” Jenny said. “As you reciprocate that, you start to build a community and as the up and downs of life happen, you have the community there to help get you through it.”
Parents are competing with the world to be the loudest voice in the room, but when parents equip their children with truth, they take a step in the right direction to tune out the lies of the enemy. For Jenny, Chasing Questions provided her with practical answers, wisdom, and peace as she walks through this season of raising her preteen to be a beacon of truth.
Here at Bellevue we have Equip Groups for learning more about specific faith topics so you can live fully in the life God has given you! If you are looking for a community to help you grow in your walk with Christ as you go through life’s different struggles, find the perfect group for you at bellevue.org/equip.