Wow, cool news! My daughters and I were contracted to write another book together! How cool is that? This particular book is the follow-up to Girl Talk, which released almost two years ago. This one is a lot like the first in that readers write in with their questions, and my daughters and I answer them. Questions about peer pressure, temptations, popularity, struggles, and anything else a teenager might deal with. But this edition has more of a journal-type feel to it than the first did. We’re really excited!

I love these opportunities because I get to take my passion and my work-at-home focus and marry that with my parenting. Plus, it’s an awesome opportunity to teach my daughters about commitment, work ethics, and priorities. Even better, it gives us an opportunity to talk about issues that are important to teenage girls and work together on something important that can help other girls.

This all came about because of the Girl Talk advice column we’ve been writing together on my website for many years. My publisher took notice of the column and asked us to write the first book patterned after that column. Then they approached me about this second one. Now that we’ve worked together and I’ve seen the awesome benefits that have come from the process, I’ve been dedicated to finding other ways to blend my work-at-home commitments together with my parenting.

I’ve involved my girls in some of my speaking engagements and some of the conferences I’ve gone to. I’ve let them express their individual creativity in the writing of the columns and the books, I’ve sought their opinions and asked for their advice. Not only does it give them ownership into the ministry, but it has provided opportunities for us to spend time together.

Moving forward I’m definitely looking for some other projects we can do together after this one because I want to instill in them a self-motivated, driven commitment to working. I believe the future will be more and more entrepreneurial, and I want him to have an entrepreneurial spirit that matches up with the calling God is raising up in their lives. By working with them and talking with them as we pursue project, I’m able to help them find nuggets of that calling, proof of it in their hearts in their lives. It’s invaluable to me as I seek guidance from the Holy Spirit on how to steer and nurture my kids.

I’ve talked before here about hiring your kids to do work for you over the summer or as you consider outsourcing some of the things you do, I’ve encouraged you to consider hiring your kids to do it. That’s wonderful, but there is an even deeper level of involvement you could go ti if you’re willing. I promise you if you look for some of those avenues and work to involve your kids, even when it costs you time or even money, it will pay off in great rewards.

Some examples might be:

·         Writing

·         Graphic design

·         Making phone calls

·         Managing social media

·         Brainstorming ideas

·         Blogging

·         Launching a special

·         Canvassing an area with flyers

Of course, only you know what your business is and what your needs are. Still my recommendation is you step back and let down the walls that tell you what your limits are and with your teenagers limits are. Open your heart and mind to see the opportunities you might be able to provide for your kids now and how God might use those opportunities to bring you closer together. In my case I’m so happy to say that two of my kids will be able to list two traditionally published books on their college applications. As a mom, that makes me very proud. But I do have three other kids coming up behind them. So I have to pray for opportunities for them as well.

My advice is that you start there. Pray that God would show you what you can do, how you can blend your business and your parenting in a way that makes sense, and how you can use the opportunities you’ve been give to give your kids an opportunity of their own.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Nicole O’Dell, founder of Choose NOW Ministries and host of Choose NOW Radio: Parent Talk and Teen Talk, is a youth culture expert who writes and speaks to preteens, teenagers, and parents about how to prepare for life’s tough choices. She’s author of YA fiction, including the popular Scenarios for Girls interactive fiction series and the Diamond Estates Series (with the 4/1/12 release of The Embittered Ruby), and non-fiction for teens including Girl Talk, 2/1/12, which she wrote with her two daughters based on their popular advice column. Hot Buttons, O’Dell’s non-fiction series for parents (6/1/12, Kregel) helps pre-empt peer pressure by tackling tough issues. Visit www.nicoleodell.com for more info.