One of the greatest disservices modern parenting promotes for youngsters of this age is the idea that they are more or less autonomous and don’t want to be parented. The words from the mouth of a teen might indicate that but the desires of the soul are much more ambivalent. Yes, they need to have a degree of independence, but they also need strong parents who walk their talk. Parental authority must be born out of truth even more clearly now than in past years as teens need to find truth.  The parent provides the template and because of the strength and clarity of that template, the teen can take steps toward discovering her own way. Participation in the family’s spiritual path is vital as the growing teen learns to consciously turn to the spiritual worlds for help as he starts to make his own path in life—witnessing his parents’ striving in all realms of life is perhaps the most important lesson for youngsters of this age.