by Rob Fridge

As a parent, we have lots of ways to pass-on our knowledge, wisdom (and bad habits) to our kids.  When they are young, they were hanging on our every word and action…almost as if learning to put a close-pin on the bag to keep the cereal fresh was life changing advice to them.  Those were the glory years when mom and dad were both brilliant and totally cool.

However, most of us know what happens to that brilliant, cool mom or dad when independence, teenage schedules and BFF’s take over.  Those “teachable moments” that seemed to be infinite and everywhere when they were young quickly become elusive to find and sometimes even unwelcome when attempted.  You sometimes get this nagging feeling that there is so much more to teach your child, but opportunities are drying up and time is running out.

Enter the Youth Group Trip.  Take that child who has little time for advice (and probably knows everything anyway) and put them in an alien environment for one week.  Some amazing things often begin to happen.  All the sudden, my teenager is coming to me for advice or conversation every few hours instead of every few days.  All the sudden, the shared experiences of struggling with speaking Spanish or lifting a 70 pound backpack is something we are physically sharing together and emotionally sharing how to cope.

Those teachable moments that elude us at home are once again everywhere and mostly appreciated by our normally all-knowing teenagers.   What’s more, this renewed bonding and camaraderie has an after-effect that lasts for weeks or months after the actual Youth Group Trip ends.   I have been on multiple backpacking, canoeing and mission trips with my son and I will continue to go with him every chance I get because I’m convinced these trips compact months of bonding and teaching into five or six precious days that we will both remember for a lifetime.

Our recent trip to Honduras was a wonderful capstone event to years of intentional parenting.  In Honduras, we shared struggles with fear, compared techniques about physical work and new relationships and explored more examples of God’s grace in our lives.  Evan came home from Honduras with a lot to think about and a week later was ready to be baptized…in large part due to growth and conversations we enjoyed that never would have occurred in the distractions and busy schedules of American city life.

The next time the youth group plans a trip, especially a trip away from cell phones and normal city life, please do not miss the opportunity to not only send but join your teenager in the experience.  You will personally come home smarter and cooler (in their eyes) than you ever thought you would be again and that nagging feeling that time is running out will diminish every time you go.