Teens Struggle With Acceptance – How Parents Can Help Their Teen’s Struggles
My wife and I are currently contractors for the United States Army in Germany. We are contracted to provide religious support for the military youth. When their parents are deployed we have a great opportunity to stand by these youth and help them through these trying times. We had almost fifty of these military youth at a summer camp that we hosted here in Germany. We taught them hip hop dance, drama, comedy and theater.
Something new happened in me as I worked with these youth, and as I began seeing the struggles that these teens face on a daily basis. Whether at home, in school, or hanging out with their peers, this one struggle shows it’s face in many different ways. Teens struggle with finding acceptance. This acceptance must first be found in the home, but more importantly they want to know how the world views them. Now, the world doesn’t matter, but to a teen wanting to look cool and grow into a fine adult, it does.
There are a lot of reasons as to why teens struggle. The one struggle that all teens face is to find acceptance in their peer group. Acceptance that says “You’re cool, you’re one of us, come chill with us.” That’s all they want.
At this summer camp, I learned so much about these teen’s struggles to find acceptance. That one struggle showed it’s face in many forms. To find acceptance in peer groups today, there is sometimes some sort of initiation process. This process could be having sex, abusing illegal drugs or substances, or dressing and acting a certain way. Athletically, your teen might struggle because they just aren’t good enough.
Where does your teen struggle? As you see, it can be anywhere, but the root reason is because they want to find acceptance. I’m glad that you are here, because that means that you want to help your teen through their struggles.
So, how can you help you teen? As your teen seeks acceptance, which is a struggle in and of itself, how is that journey going? Are they doing things they wouldn’t normally have done, but they really want to be accepted so they do them?
Your teen should feel accepted in their own home. It must start there. Does your teen like to do things that aren’t socially or academically accepted in your home? That begs the question, if your teen cannot find acceptance in their home, where can they? There friends are going to be a lot meaner, for the most part.
You can help your teen’s struggles simply by using your words. Use words of love, encouragement, acceptance, and simply words that build them up, that make them feel better about themselves.
I find myself in a constant struggle with taking the time to tell my son good things about him. Things that I’ve noticed yet I don’t say. As you are admiring your teen, do you see many things about them that you appreciate and love? Well tell them a couple of those things! It will definitely make their day!
Jordan Adams, CEO of ResourceToLife.com, is a youth pastor, teacher, husband and father. Having worked with struggling youth for years, he now provides cutting-edge resources for parenting troubled teens.
Related Videos :
- Twouble with Twitters SuperNews
A young man struggles against the pressure to Twitter his life away. From: “SuperNews!” An animated sketch comedy series airing on Current TV. Every Friday night at 10 PM ET/PT. So set your DVRs and TIVOs. Like… now. Follow us on twitter: @super_josh For more SuperNews! go to www.current.com/supernews… Twitter supernews super news twittersphere twitterlebrity addict cartoon animation best season current tv twitter.com @super_josh @kevinrose @rodnaber
« view video » - The Sell Out How Massachusetts Plans to Create New Addicts To Pay For Struggling State Programs
As states suffer from the crushing burden of casino capitalism on Wall Street, governors and legislatures are scrambling to make up for the shortfall. Their dangerous solution? Get hundreds of thousands of their own citizens hooked on predatory slot machines. This new and powerful video takes you behind the glitter and the falsehoods to show you what casino operators — and the legislators and public officials who support them — don' t
« view video » - Kucinich the Federal Reserve is paying banks NOT to make loans to struggling Americans
Tuesday, 21 July 2009 US Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio, 10th District) questions Neil M. Barofsky, the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP), testifying before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, about interest payments made to banks that keep their TARP funds and other government (taxpayer) bailout money with the Federal Reserve, instead of making loans to struggling Americans (the original intent of the
« view video » - Dr MLK Jr Struggling Not To Lose Him
Too often, we are treated to a view of a romanticized version of Dr. King in order to fit the man and his struggle neatly within the prevailing political and economic power structures in a largely uncritical and non-threatening manner. Dr. King has been mass marketed as an accommodationist figure and this portrayal is now so pervasive in our schools, media, etc. that it threatens to neutralize and placate the
« view video » - Sam Winchester Struggling for Perfection
“Growing older made me colder as I lost direction struggling for perfection”. Sam Winchester' s changes… I guess everyone knows that I' m a huge Dean fan! 
But that doesn' t mean that I don' t like Sam… I mean I LOVE Dean but I also love Sam! I love Jared, too, and I also love the actor who plays little Sam! I think he' s really talented… and cute!
« view video »
Related News :
- President Obama releases statement on death of Sen Kennedy
“Michelle and I were heartbroken to learn this morning of the death of our dear friend, Senator Ted Kennedy, ” according to a statement released by President Obama on the death of Sen. Edward Kennedy. “For five decades, virtually every major piece of legislation to advance the civil rights, health and economic well being of the American people bore his name and resulted from his efforts”
Read more » - Wii Sports Resort Mobile Tour Offers Virtual Vacations at Concord Mills and Four Seasons Town Center
—-Nintendo: WHAT: Not everyone can take a vacation this year, but North Carolina residents will be whisked away on a virtual island vacation as Nintendos interactive Wii Sports Resort Mobile Tour makes stops at Concord Mills and Four Seasons Town Center.
Read more » - Current Conditions
(Ozark, MO) — Five teens accused of felony property damage will be arraigned in Christian County today. Josiah Babin, Andrew and James Bagwell, Dustin Cleek and Coleman Walker together face more than 40 charges.
Read more » - Senator Ted Kennedy dies at age 77
Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, the last surviving brother in a political dynasty and one of the most influential senators in U.S. history, died Tuesday night at his home on Cape Cod after a year-long struggle with brain cancer. He was 77.
Read more » - Kennedy Made Health Care Focal Point
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, the last surviving brother in a political dynasty and one of the most influential senators in history, dies at his home on Cape Cod after a yearlong struggle with brain cancer. He was 77. FOX 5′s Sarah Simmons reports on how Senator Ted Kennedy made health care reform the focal point of his career.
Read more » - Meeting kids in need
Ecstatic to see his friend Shirin Beroukhim, 7-year-old Marcus Winters hopped up and down, grinning as he leaped in his socked feet across the floor of his bedroom in a Costa Mesa apartment complex one recent afternoon.
Read more » - Most red ink ever 9 trillion over next decade
WASHINGTON – In a chilling forecast, the White House is predicting a 10-year federal deficit of $9 trillion – more than the sum of all previous deficits since America’s founding. And it says by the next decade’s end the national debt…
Read more » - Mass Sen Edward M Kennedy dies at age 77
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, the last surviving brother in a political dynasty and one of the most influential senators in history, died Tuesday night at his home on Cape Cod after a year-long struggle with brain cancer. He was 77.
Read more » - Woman s body found in water at marina in Oak Harbor
BLADE STAFF OAK HARBOR The body of a young woman, her arms bound behind her back and her feet tied together, was found Tuesday night in the water at Lamberjack’s Marina on West Locust Point Road in Oak Harbor, authorities said. The victim, who likely was in her late teens or early 20s, was weighted down with two large blocks. Discovered by two people who were riding jet skis in the area, the…
Read more » - Working May Stress Teen Sexual Health
An interesting new study suggests allowing teens to work too many hours in the wrong setting may create situations that could damage the teens sexual health. Researchers posit that working too many hours may foster conditions that lead the teens to older sex partners. This is just one of the key findings in a University of
Read more »
Related Post:
Posted in ParentingTags: struggle, teens,