Single Parent’s Guide: Modeling Healthy Relationships for Your Teens

“Single Parent’s Guide: Modeling Healthy Relationships for Your Teens”

Parenting teens can feel like navigating a maze, especially when they start exploring romantic relationships. For parents, the goal is often to guide their children in making healthy, God-centered choices while maintaining an open line of communication. But how do you do this, especially if your children haven’t had a front-row seat to healthy relationships?

Here’s the good news: even if your children haven’t seen a relationship modeled in your home, you can still provide wisdom and create an environment that fosters trust, respect, and open conversations. Drawing from my own journey as a single mom to a God-fearing son and the principles of my A.T.O.M. strategy, here’s how you can support your teens through this stage of life.

1. Create a Safe Space for Sharing

The most important thing you can do as a parent is to create an environment where your children feel comfortable sharing—not just about dating, but about anything they face.

I remember when my son was a teenager in high school, and he became very interested in understanding his identity. He started pulling books off my shelf—books I had because I was in seminary and leading a girls’ ministry at the time. One of those books deeply resonated with him, as it talked about identity being rooted in God.

Over time, my son not only began to embrace this truth for himself but also became a trusted advisor for some of his peers. Students at his school would come to him to talk or seek advice, recognizing that he was grounded in something deeper.

This experience taught me how critical it is for us, as parents, to model behaviors and values that reflect our identity in Christ. Even as a single mom, I knew my actions mattered. My son saw me lead my own program, G.I.F.T. (Girls Impacting Future Today), for three years, mentoring middle school girls and serving teen girls at church. These examples showed him what it looks like to live with purpose and faith, even without a father figure in the home.

It’s not about perfection—it’s about consistency. What we do, how we serve, and how we live our lives speak volumes to our children.

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

2. Teach Boundaries and Self-Worth

This is where the Acknowledge & Assess step from the A.T.O.M. strategy comes into play. Help your teens understand their value and the importance of setting boundaries in relationships.

Discuss red and green flags. Respect, honesty, and kindness are green flags, while manipulation, disrespect, and controlling behavior are red flags.
Remind them of their worth. Teach them that their identity and value come from being a child of God, not from their relationship status or how others perceive them. Share Scriptures like Psalm 139:14 (“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made”) and Ephesians 2:10 (“For we are God’s masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus to do good works”).

Encourage them to stand firm in their values:

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God.” (Romans 12:2)

3. Model Healthy Relationships in Your Own Life

Even if you’re not in a romantic relationship, your children can still learn about respect, boundaries, and healthy communication through how you interact with others. This is part of Turn Inward & Turn Upward from A.T.O.M.—seeking God’s guidance to grow and reflect His love in all your relationships.

For me, I was intentional about showing my son what healthy relationships look like through my interactions with family, friends, and even in how I treated myself. These examples gave him a foundation for understanding respect and empathy.

“Set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12)

4. Pray with and for Them

Encourage your teens to seek God’s guidance in their relationships. This step aligns with Turn Upward from A.T.O.M., teaching them to rely on God for wisdom and clarity.

Praying with my son about his friendships and relationships became a special bonding experience. It wasn’t just about asking God to protect him but also about teaching him to trust God’s timing and plan for his life.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5)

5. Own Your Story and Share Lessons Learned

As parents, sharing age-appropriate parts of our stories can help teens learn valuable lessons. This is the heart of Own Your Story in the A.T.O.M. strategy—recognizing how your experiences, even the hard ones, can be used to guide and support your children.

I was honest with my son about some of my own struggles with relationships, showing him the importance of learning from mistakes and trusting God’s plan. By sharing my story, I was able to help him navigate his own journey with wisdom and faith.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

6. Help Them Move Forward with Confidence

Lastly, encourage your teens to take what they’re learning and apply it as they move forward in their relationships. This step aligns with Move Forward in the A.T.O.M. strategy, which is all about proactive steps and growth.

Remind your teens that relationships are a part of life’s learning process. Encourage them to reflect on their experiences, seek God’s guidance, and know that you are there to support them every step of the way.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Final Thoughts

Parenting teens through dating can feel overwhelming, but it’s also a beautiful opportunity to build trust and deepen your relationship with your children. By creating a safe space, teaching boundaries, and modeling healthy relationships, you are equipping them to navigate this season with wisdom and faith.

Your intentional love, coupled with the principles of A.T.O.M., will leave a lasting impact—not only on how they approach dating but on how they value themselves and others.