When Teens Hurt Themselves
“Courage consists in the power of self-recovery.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Parents feel distressed and often helpless when they discover their teen has been practicing self-mutilation. Both males and females can be affected, but we...
Understanding Adolescence
Adolescence can be a trying time for many. Neither parents nor teens are really prepared for it. Oh, we know it is coming, and we have heard stories, maybe even read books, but emotionally,...
Trust is Key in Parent-Teen Relationships
Last week's column was written for teens, to help them to understand parent's behavior. We talked about the adult's need to protect and set limits as an extension of the caring that began when...
Thinking for Yourself: Empowerment for Youth
“The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.” ~Coco Chanel
It is always our hope that when our children become teenagers they will be able to make good choices, and resist pressure...
Teens – Just Be Yourself
“You were born an original. Don't die a copy.” ~John Mason
Many teens struggle with the issue of friends and fitting in socially. Adolescence it a challenging time, and it all can be quite confusing....
Teens Running Away
A very trying and tense situation is created when a teenager decides to run away from home. Often there has been conflict over matters such as curfew or choice of friends, and it looks...
Teen’s Power
“You can have power over people as long as you don't take everything away from them. But when you've robbed a man of everything, he's no longer in your power.” ~ Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn
Most...
Teen Curfews
It is with sadness that I write this column, having recently read of another accident resulting in the death of teenagers. My heart breaks for the friends and families of the victims.
I think how...
Teenagers in Training
When we decide to start a family, the usual picture in our mind is of cute little babies, and maybe playful toddlers. We don't typically envision gangly pre-teens or rebellious adolescents.
Consequently we may begin...
Teen Vandalism
Recently my neighborhood was hit by a series of break-ins. It is unfortunate how such an incident changes things. The neighborhood is pretty stable, most of us having lived here for a long time....