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Unforgettable Quotes for Parents of Teenagers

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Being a parent of a teenager is an adventure filled with a mix of challenges and joys. As a mom of two teen boys, I know first hand the highs of watching them grow into their own and the lows of navigating the tricky teenage years. Along the way, I’ve found that a few wise words can make all the difference. Whether you’re seeking comfort during a tough moment, a bit of humor to lighten the mood, or wisdom to guide you, unforgettable quotes can be a lifeline. In this post, I’ll share some of the best quotes that have helped me as a mom, offering inspiration and perspective to anyone raising teens. So, grab a cup of coffee, take a deep breath, and let’s dive into these nuggets of wisdom together.

mom and two teenagers at the beach

Let’s begin on a light note. Here are some of my favorite funny quotes to hopefully give you a good laugh…

Raising teenagers often feels like trying to nail jelly to a wall. Just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, everything changes. That’s why humor is such an important tool for parents. Laughter has the power to make those tough moments feel a little lighter. Funny quotes from experienced parents remind us that we’re not alone on this crazy ride. One parent joked, “Having a teenager is like having a blender without a lid.” Another said, “The best way to keep your teen in check is to embarrass them. Works every time, guaranteed.” Lol, not sure If I would recomend doing that last one haha! But these bits of wisdom, wrapped in humor, remind us to laugh in the chaos. After all, sometimes laughter really is the best medicine, especially during the teenage years.

Funny Parents/Teenager Quotes

“Raising teenagers is the age-old battle of trying to figure out which comes first: patience or sanity.” — Unknown

“Adolescence is perhaps nature’s way of preparing parents to welcome the empty nest.” — Karen Savage and Patricia Adams

“Raising teenagers is like trying to nail Jell-O to a tree.” — Unknown

parents teenager quotes

“Parenting teens is like playing a video game: just when you think you’ve got the hang of it, they level up and you have no idea what’s going on.” — Unknown

“The scariest part of raising teenagers is remembering what you did as a teenager.” — Unknown

“The best way to keep children at home is to make the home atmosphere pleasant—and let the air out of the tires.” — Dorothy Parker

“The quickest way for a parent to get a child’s attention is to sit down and look comfortable.” — Lane Olinghouse

Hope you like hearing “there’s nothing to eat!” right after you just spent your life savings at the grocery store.” @sarcasticmommy4

Inspirational Quotes for the Tough Days Parenting Teens

Raising teenagers will test a parent’s patience more  than they might have thought possible. It takes a lot of effort to steer them in the right direction. In moments of overwhelming challenge, some tips of wisdom can provide the strength needed. Here are some of the best inspiring parenting quotes I found:

“The greatest gifts you can give your children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence.” – Denis Waitley. This encourages parents to remember the end goal of their journey. 

“Don’t worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you.” – Robert Fulghum. It serves as a reminder that actions speak louder than words. 

“It is not what you do for your children, but what you have taught them to do for themselves, that will make them successful human beings.” – Ann Landers. Empowering teens to become self-reliant is so very important. 

“Parenthood… It’s about guiding the next generation and forgiving the last.” – Peter Krause.

Related Blog Post: 115 Awesome Mom and Teenage Son Activities

 “The biggest communication problem is we do not listen to understand. We listen to reply.”– Stephen R. Covey. I love this quote so much! It’s a reminder of the effort required to truly understand our teenagers. Listen without reacting. Just listen.

parents teenager quotes

“Raising teenagers is like watching a roller coaster; it has its ups and downs, but ultimately, it’s an amazing ride.” — Unknown

“Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.” — John Quincy Adams

“This too shall pass.” — Persian Proverb

“You don’t have to be perfect to be a perfect parent.” — Unknown

“As your kids grow, they may forget what you said, but they won’t forget how you made them feel.” — Kevin Heath

“A child needs your love the most when they deserve it the least.” — Erma Bombeck

I hope these quotes inspire and encourage you as you go through  the challenges and joys of raising teenagers.

Remembering the Most Important Thing. Unconditional Love.

Unconditional love is the foundation of the parent-teen relationship. Parents often deal with mood swings and misunderstandings, but it’s the constant support and acceptance that helps teens find their way.

Raising teenagers can be frustrating, with conversations feeling like battles and silence sometimes offering a sense of relief. But unconditional love turns the hard days into lessons about patience, understanding, and support.

Through the ups and downs of the teen years, this love teaches both parents and teens to grow and to hopefully come to understand each other. Whether it’s through reading a text message, laughing over a shared reel on social media, or having a heart-to-heart talk, the bond is strengthened.

Expressing love has changed with the times. Today, a simple text saying “I’m here for you” can mean as much as big gestures used to. This flexibility in showing love keeps the connection between parents and teens strong and unconditional.

Unconditional Love Quotes for Parents of Teens

“A parent’s love for their child is continuous and transcends heartbreak and disappointment.” — Unknown

“A mother’s love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity. It dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path.” — Agatha Christie

“Parenting teens is an act of love. It is choosing to love them even when they push you away.” — Unknown

“Parental love is the only love that is truly selfless, unconditional, and forgiving.” — Dr. T.P. Chia

“A parent’s love is whole no matter how many times divided.” — Robert Brault

parents teenager quotes

“To love someone unconditionally, you must love them through every stage of their growth, and never expect perfection.” — Unknown

“A parent’s love is a love that never fades, no matter how old the child gets.” — Unknown

“No matter how old they get, your children will always need you. Your love, support, and understanding.” — Unknown

“Parental love is like a river, always flowing, no matter how rough the waters.” — Unknown

“A parent’s love is an anchor in the stormy sea of adolescence.” — Unknown

“A parent’s love for their child is the most genuine and enduring love of all.” — Unknown

“Parenthood: All love begins and ends there.” — Robert Browning

Quotes for Parents of Teenagers That Offer Wisdom

Raising a teenager in today’s busy world, with social media and constant information, takes a lot of strength and patience. In the middle of  chaos and waves of emotions with large amounts of eye-rolling, all of us parents look for something to hold onto—a bit of wisdom to keep us going.


“The greatest gift you can give your teen is the freedom to find their own way, even when the path they choose isn’t the one you would have taken.”
 – L.R. Knost

“In the end, it’s not about being the perfect parent but about being a positive presence in their lives.” – Sue Atkins

“Hard times will reveal the strength of your bond with your teenager. Embrace these as not just challenges, but opportunities for growth.” – Unknown

“Patience is the quickest way to a young heart; love and understanding its most powerful way.” – Marshall McLuhan

“In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.” — Albert Einstein

“Strength grows in the moments when you think you can’t go on but you keep going anyway.” — Unknown

“What it’s like to be a parent: It’s one of the hardest things you’ll ever do, but in exchange, it teaches you the meaning of unconditional love.” — Nicholas Sparks

parents teenager quotes

“Teens are the most misunderstood people on the planet. They are treated like children and expected to act like adults.” — Unknown 

This is probably my favorite quote from this whole list because it really made me think about my own thought processs raising my teens. There’s a good chance I treat my young people this way more than I realize. 

More Parenting Quotes to Inspire You

“There are two lasting bequests we can give our children. One is roots. The other is wings.” — Hodding Carter

“Your children need your presence more than your presents.” — Jesse Jackson

“The best inheritance a parent can give his children is a few minutes of his time each day.” — O. A. Battista

“To be in your children’s memories tomorrow, you have to be in their lives today.” — Barbara Johnson

“The art of mothering is to teach the art of living to children.” — Elaine Heffner

Related Blog Post: Positive Parenting Quotes to Inspire You

“The way we talk to our children becomes their inner voice.” — Peggy O’Mara

“Children are apt to live up to what you believe of them.” — Lady Bird Johnson

“At the end of the day, the most overwhelming key to a child’s success is the positive involvement of parents.” — Jane D. Hull

“The thing about parenting rules is there aren’t any. That’s what makes it so difficult.” — Ewan McGregor

“To bring up a child in the way he should go, travel that way yourself once in a while.” — Josh Billings

“You have a lifetime to work, but children are only young once.” — Polish Proverb

“Parenting is the easiest thing in the world to have an opinion about, but the hardest thing in the world to do.” — Matt Walsh

“If you want your children to turn out well, spend twice as much time with them, and half as much money.” — Abigail Van Buren

“The greatest legacy we can leave our children is happy memories.” — Og Mandino

“A mother understands what a child does not say.” — Jewish Proverb

“There is no such thing as a perfect parent. So just be a real one.” — Sue Atkins

“It’s not what you do for your children but what you have taught them to do for themselves that will make them successful human beings.” — Ann Landers

Preparing for When i’ts Time to Let Go

Helping teenagers become independent is all about finding the right balance . We as parents often have to decide when to give advice and when to let go. “Letting go doesn’t mean giving up, but rather accepting that there are things that cannot be,” explains this well. It means trusting your teen to handle things on their own, but not ever giving up on them.

Parents might wonder how much freedom to give their teens. “The greatest gifts you can give your children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence,” sums it up best  I think. The goal is to prepare them for life outside the home. This balance needs patience, wisdom, and the understanding that stepping back now will help them to become their own person and move forward in the future.

Inspirational Parenting Quotes About Letting Go


“The best thing you can give your children is your time, but the most important thing you can give them is their freedom.” 
— Unknown

“You give your children enough to see their dreams come true, but you let them make their own way.” — Unknown

“It’s not what you do for your children, but what you have taught them to do for themselves that will make them successful human beings.” — Ann Landers

“Children must be taught how to think, not what to think.” — Margaret Mead

“Parenting is a balance between holding on and letting go.” — Unknown

“Your child is not your property. They have their own journey.” — Unknown

“The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other’s life.” — Richard Bach

parents teenager quotes

“There are no perfect parents, and there are no perfect children, but there are plenty of perfect moments along the way.” — Dave Willis

“The best way to predict your future is to create it.”  Abraham Lincoln

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”  Anne Frank

“The greatest gift you can give your teen is the freedom to find their own way, even when the path they choose isn’t the one you would have taken.” – L.R. Knost

Leaving a Legacy as we Raise Strong Young Adults

Being a parent to teenagers is no small job. It’s a time where every word and action can make a lasting impact on our kids. We’re walking through uncertainty, trying to guide them towards a future filled with goodness and strength. What we hope to leave behind isn’t just money or possessions, but qualities like kindness, selfishless, resilience, and love.

Despite the rollercoaster of emotions and the challenges of understanding each other, we’re building something special. It’s a bond rooted in unconditional love that gives our teens the emotional foundation they need as they grow into adulthood. As we stry to keep our home filled with laughter and patience, we know these moments will be cherished by our kids in years to come.

The most important thing we do as parents is the everyday moments of love and guidance. Whether we’re giving advice or sharing a laugh, we’re shaping our teenagers into capable, confident people who are ready to take on the world. Our efforts today are shaping their future!

Bible Verses About Raising Children in Every Stage of Life

If you have followed my blog for any period of time, you know I have to include the word of God. These verses give guidance, encouragement, and wisdom for raising children and teenagers according to biblical principles. All verses are from the New International Version (NIV).

Proverbs 22:6: “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

Ephesians 6:4: “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

Colossians 3:21: “Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.”

Deuteronomy 6:6-7: “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

Proverbs 29:17: “Discipline your children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire.”

Psalm 127:3-5: “Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court.”

Proverbs 13:24: “Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.”

3 John 1:4: “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”

Isaiah 54:13: “All your children will be taught by the Lord, and great will be their peace.”

Related Blog Post: Podcasts for Moms to be Inspired and Encouraged

parenting bible verse -Joshua 24:15

Joshua 24:15: “But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

Proverbs 23:24: “The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.”

1 Timothy 4:12: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”

Deuteronomy 11:18-19: “Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

Final Thoughts on Parents of Teenager Quotes

As a mom of teenagers I know first hand this is a challenging yet rewarding journey. I truly hope the quotes  shared offer wisdom, encouragement, and a bit of humor to help you through the ups and downs. Remember, you’re not alone in this; many parents are on the same path, going through the same struggles and joys. Hold on to these words of advice and let them inspire you to be patient, loving, and strong. Your efforts today are shaping the independent adults your teens will become tomorrow. Keep going—you’re doing a great job! We all are!

Make sure to follow me on Instagram where I share my personal journey raising my children. You will find a ton of teen content as of lately. I have been so weepy and sentimental since my oldest son graduated high school last month. Man, it really is a beautiful journey. 🥹

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