From: Julie
I thought I would share this with parents teenagers. Sometimes they do things we wouldn't expect them to do but without really knowing why they did what they did, we can't rescue them. Sometimes we have to open the door for them to confide in us about their fears, worries, and uncertainties. if one creates conditions that would make them not trust us, the result can be devastating. Read what was written by and 8th grader named Jessica Arlia below.
Julieth K., Date: Mon, 22 Feb 2010 08:34:26 -0700

Message from Jessica Arlia:
If only adults lived our lives. Life today for teenagers is more difficult than most think. I know that most adults think that our only problems are what we're going to wear the next day or whether we're in the cool crowd, but some of us have it much more difficult than that. What adults don't know is that so many kids are dealing with depression, cutting themselves, being beaten, raped or sexually harassed, and even suicide. that's when they turn to drugs, alcohol, sex and crime. I know people in every one of those categories and something needs to be done. To help these kids, one of the best things parents can do is to be there for us. Don't be mad at us for acting rashly when you know there are reasons for it. Try to understand what we're going through and see what you ca do to help. Our irresponsibility is usually a silent cry for help. We want help even if we don't admit it. So please, just be there for us when we need it most.
Jessica Arlia

From: Edith
The worst thing as a parent you can do to your teenager is to shut them out, not listening to them. You may not like what they are saying but open the lines of communication that way if you are lucky they will confide to you their worst fears and worries instead of their buddies. The way you react to some of these talks makes the difference whether they are going to confide to you again or not. So keep your cool even when you want to scream, Its a very thin line we walk as parents, so you walk it with care. And pray that God will guide them whatever mistake they make is a learning process and not the end of the story. God Bless us all, there a are no books out there that will make it easy you write it as you go.
Edith K., Date: Mon, Feb 22, 2010 at 12:10 PM