Get a wrap on summer.

School starts Monday for many people (though for some it has already begun). As you think about this past summer and all the activities your teenager participated in, how can you capitalize on how their, and your, time was spent? Many of these activities you didn’t participate in. And your kids are involved in all kinds of different things and in different ways. Whether it is movies, staying with friends (new and old), or summer camp, you need a way to wrap it all up and get the most out of what has happened to you and to them during these couple of months. This weekend is the perfect time to do that.

I was prompted to this idea by an email I got from ParenTeen.com about “How to welcome your teenager home from camp”. Follow the link below to read more of the suggestions they have on how to wrap up your summer well going into this school year.

ParenTeen Tip of the Month

Bullying

This past weekend I had the privilege of speaking at the iParenting Seminar in North Richland Hills. It was a privilege to work with several other non-profits and 4 school districts, one private school, & a church to put on a seminar for parents dealing with the transition years for their students.

Below are the slides from my presentation. I hope to add audio later to make it more clear what I am talking about but for now hopefully it will help you recognize bullying and if your child is bullied, as well as give you some practical ways to address this issue.

The resources listed are as follows:

The Bully, the Bullied, and the Bystander by Barbara Coloroso

To Save a Life Movie

Bang Bang You’re Dead Movie

Bullying, Then vs Now

(This is a guest post from our Executive Director, Chris Hatchett. It is taken from our most recent newsletter.)

The recent news reports on bullying have been shocking. One day there is a local article about a teen committing suicide in our area.  This week the media has been following the case in the Northeast where they are actually indicting the teenagers who did the bullying.  Teen Lifeline has great interest in this subject, as it is our goal to help teens on both sides of this issue.  Bullying has always been present.  The difference is that when I was in school, you could get away from the bullies.  Today’s teens have few boundaries.  Bullying that starts at school continues via cell phone or social networking.  It can seem overwhelming – often leaving teens so helpless that suicide seems like their only way out.

Through our cell groups, Teen Lifeline gives hope to teens, helping them identify resources they can depend on for help – as well as developing the tools they need to cope with the stressors in their lives.  In addition, we are working on a specific four-week curriculum that can be taught in churches or schools to help address the anger management issues that often lead to bullying.  If you or someone you know is affected by this issue – please contact us.  We want to help.