Search Results for: blog teenagers arent the only ones who feel pressure

Can Women Have It All?

It’s an age-old debate come to surface again recently. A former State Department policymaker, Anne-Marie Slaughter, admitted to “The Atlantic” that her attempt at trying to balance work and family didn’t go as she would have liked. It comes down to the issue of, “Can a woman have it all?” Can she work outside of her home and take care of her family? And can she do it without having regrets or feeling guilt? After Slaughter admitted to her struggles, other working moms began to voice their opinions. They would like to see more flexibility on the job as well. … Continue reading →

Time for Cell Phone?

In this day and age it seems like everyone has a cell phone, children and teenagers alike. I recently was student teaching in a sixth grade class at a local elementary school. Nearly all of the children had cell phones, and most of them were much nicer than mine. Children as young as kindergarten are feeling pressure to get a cell phone and cell phone companies are responding to their plight. They even have cell phones designed for toddlers now in case of an emergency. Cell phone companies such as Firefly Mobile have cell phones designed specifically for children’s needs … Continue reading →

Parents of Teens Need Friends Too

I spent a good half hour late last night texting a friend. I sound like a teenager, don’t I? We were going back and forth, sharing our “teen” stories and encouraging each other. What I especially love about this friend is that she is one who can truly relate. We both have sons who are seniors. We both have daughters that are just one year apart and our youngest sons are both in 7th grade. In fact, all of our kids are very good friends, having grown up in the church together. One of the topics of our texting was … Continue reading →

High School Behavior in Adults

High school behavior isn’t relegated just to teens. I have seen some of the same behavior that our teens struggle with, be just as much an issue with adults. I’m talking about when adults start to interfere in teen issues that should probably be left on their own. Parents who get overly involved in their teens lives not only prevent them from learning how to handle relational issues but they can quickly find themselves getting sucked into the same behavior we see in our teens. What I have learned is that I need to be very careful about what I … Continue reading →

A Teen’s Need for Privacy

The need for privacy can be a challenge for some parents of teens. There may be a fear that it will open the door to something negative. Or it may be that the parent feels rejected and takes it personally. Privacy is sometimes looked at as a bad thing and parents may question, “Why do they want to be alone so much?” But it is really a natural part of the maturing process and a reprieve from what can be a very difficult world. Don’t you ever sometimes just want to be alone? Even as an adult we have those … Continue reading →

For the Strength of Youth Series

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Have you read the For the Strength of Youth pamphlet lately? I hadn’t until I was called to a Young Women calling a while ago. All I remembered was that as a youth I used to think of the pamphlet as guidance for what I wasn’t supposed to do. As I looked at it again, I was amazed at the simple doctrines, the understanding, and the love that radiates from the pages of this pamphlet. Everything is so direct and simple. Everything is doctrinally sound. It’s fabulous. Whether you have a teenager around the house or not, this little book … Continue reading →

Should Parents Snoop on Their Teens?

Do you think parents should snoop on their teens? I think this is a topic not talked about but one that is definitely thought about. Some people might think this is an invasion of privacy. Others believe that if they live under your roof, they are subject to invasion. I will readily admit that I snoop on my teens. I do it for a few reasons. First, I do it to know what is going on. While I would like to believe that my children will share everything going on in their lives, I know it is unlikely. This is … Continue reading →

I Guess I’m Not That Cool

Apparently I have been delusional in some of my thinking. I have been convinced that for a mom I am pretty cool. I text, I have a Facebook account and I enjoy loud music. I have always felt somewhat connected to my children’s world and honestly, have always felt welcomed. When my oldest son was in middle school, he had no problem being seen with me. I am very easy to talk to and his friends would enjoy having conversations with me. He didn’t mind when I showed up at his school, he would walk with me down the hallway … Continue reading →

Teenagers Aren’t the Only Ones Who Feel Pressure

Peer pressure is not something that just teenagers deal with. I think parents of teenagers can also feel pressure. Our pressure is a bit different but the way it feels is probably very similar. The pressure parents of teenagers have is related to the balance between parenting the way the world dictates and parenting the way we think is best. I have learned over the years of being a parent that not every decision I make will be appreciated. I’m not even talking about my children accepting my decisions. I am referring to decisions that I make as a parent … Continue reading →

What Your Mother Never Told You: a Survival Guide for Teenage Girls – Richard M. Dudum

Our teenagers today are facing more pressure, more trials than ever before, and author Richard M. Dudum wants to give our daughters a clear, unmistakable message: you don’t have to conform to anyone else’s idea of what you should be. You can decide for yourself if you’re going to get involved in drugs, if you’re going to have sex, if you’re going to play into the social games. He does this in his new book, “What Your Mother Never Told You,” and he does it in down-to-earth language that can’t be misinterpreted. Several different topics are covered in this book, … Continue reading →