teen years

As parents, Mike and I are seeking wisdom.  The teen years are in full force at our house.  Carter is 14.5 and a freshman in highschool.  He's always been a kind, people-pleasing, thoughtful young man who loves his parents and his Lord dearly.  He is still that boy, but there are struggles that young guys deal with.  Pressure, figuring out how to relate to girls, being cool, grades, football, inadequacies, feelings of wanting to be independent, etc.  Last night was the very first time I can remember thinking "God, I have zero clue as to how to deal with this.  Please, pour out your wisdom on us."  Our era of being the number one influence in his life is over.  Studies show that if you haven't captured your child's heart and influence by age 8--he will generally never see you as his most important person of influence.  We've done our best, but let's face it folks, parenting takes a huge shift at this age. 
You see, our society and media have made it normal for teenage boys to be rebellious, disrespectful, angry and worldly.  That is a lie from the devil,enemy of our souls.  If he can trap teenage boys into being angry and rebellious, AND get their parents to settle for this--he destroys their relationships with their parents and God, he destroys their effectiveness for Jesus, he sets them up to have screwed up marriages--emotional, physical, spiritual baggage to carry around.
Mike and I will NOT sit back and let that happen.  We don't want to make big deals out of temporary issues.  But, we both understand that little issues beget big issues if not taken care of.  A wise wise man who has worked with teens and their parents for a long time says that a parent's job is not to care about their child's comfort-but their character.  That is exactly what we are aiming for.  It is tiring at times.  I'm potty training a super duper busy toddler, taking care of the 2 middle kids, soccer, multiple doctor visits and medications, work, church, homework etc. I'm praying the following verses in 2 ways:  for Mike and I to have wisdom from the Lord, and for Carter to seek wisdom so that he will reap it's many benefits.
Proverbs 2: 6-12
For the LORD gives wisdom,
and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He holds victory in store for the upright,
he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
8 for he guards the course of the just
and protects the way of his faithful ones.
9 Then you will understand what is right and just
and fair—every good path.
10 For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
11 Discretion will protect you,
and understanding will guard you. 
12 Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men,
from men whose words are perverse,