Click on this link to watch the most amazing video about a man with no arms and legs and it puts life in perspective:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSayMXTaQY8&feature=youtube_gdata_player
It is tough being a teenager, there is constant pressure from all angles and no letup.
There is pressure from school, friends, their peers, the media, social networking, drugs, alcohol, sex, jobs and what will they do in the future?
They worry about their image, what they wear, can they fit in, will people like them, will they get a boyfriend/girlfriend, worry about their spots, are they pretty/fit, too fat/too thin and so it goes on.
And then there are “the parents” and our expectations can add to that pressure.
No wonder so many teenagers don’t feel they are worth anything, worry about whether or not they will ever get through it and feel like giving up.
Using the inspirational example of Nick in this You Tube clip, we need to encourage our teenagers to be grateful for who they are and what they have and not wish for what they haven’t.
As parents, we need to support and encourage them to believe in themselves – our teenagers need reassurance and positive encouragement because they constantly question themselves and who they are.
Often, when my teenagers are at their most grumpy and stroppy, they are often feeling down, inadequate and insecure so, with some difficulty, I have learnt to keep my mouth shut – there is no point destroying their confidence further by having a go at them. I am not encouraging you to ignore unacceptable behaviour, however, it is about timing and picking the right time to talk to them about their behaviour.
