Archive for Uncategorized
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.
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
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.
Resource Awareness
I have recently been spending a lot of time researching and locating resources. Specifically in the Fort Worth area. This process has helped me realize that there a lot of people out there needing resources and in many cases the resources are available. The problem is that it is hard to find many of them. Using an internet search leads to a long list of hits and confusing links to weed through.
Because of this I wanted to put out some guidelines I use when searching for resources helpful to teens and families.
1. Use your relationships with people to find resources. This is really the best way. By asking people who have been there (other parents) or people who work in the mental health or rehab field you will quickly find options to contact.
2. Search for related services that might be able to point you in the right direction. For example, you may not need a rehab facility but if you call them, they could refer you to other services. Even something like calling a local hospital may be helpful.
3. Think simple. You don’t have to use clinical terms to find “therapeutic rehabilitation facilities for adolescents”. You can simply search for difficult teen, teen challenge, or dealing with a teen and find resources that may be helpful.
4. Check out the resource. Not everyone is helpful or has been checked out. I recommend calling and/or visiting any resource you find before committing. Along with this I recommend checking out multiple places for comparison sake. You may find that you didn’t think of things to ask until you learn what else could be included.
If you still feel like you aren’t finding what you are looking for, here are some resources I frequently recommend.
ACH Services – Established in 1915, ACH offers lots of options for helping youth and families. Including a 24 hour toll free number 1.888.296.8099.
Sundance Behavioral Health Center – Offer classes for teens and parents on a multitude of issues.
Teen Challenge – A national faith based organization that works especially with drug issues for youth and adults.
You can also refer to our Resources page, as we try to keep this up to date with new resources we find.
For those that read, I recommend Donald Miller’s new book A Million Miles in a Thousand Years. I have not read anything like it in terms of helping you and your teen be intentional with how you live. Be informed, this is not a parenting book, it is a book about paying attention to how we live.
Leave a comment, letting us know how these things help you Live Life Better.
To Save a Life Movie
Just a short post with more of a review to come. My wife and I recently had the opportunity to go see the To Save a Life movie. I was somewhat skeptical as it is a low budget film. However, the producers left nothing to be imagined. They tackled tough teen issues and didn’t leave out any of the details.
Here’s the trailer:
As we watched I thought how tough it must be for teenagers to deal with the pressures they do every day. I also thought about how many parents live in denial or are so checked out of their teens life that they have no idea what the teen is going through.
I have encountered many parents that say “They’re really a good kid”, I understand what they mean but I have found myself thinking, “No they aren’t”. No one is naturally good, we have to work at being good every day and teenagers have to be taught how to be good by mentors, parents, teachers, & coaches. If they don’t receive this guidance it makes it tough for them to be a good person as they grow up.
If you haven’t seen the movie, don’t put it off. It is well worth the money and time and movies like this need the support of us as movie goers. Click this link to Fandango to find local times and locations. To Save a Life movie
