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Parents: Look to Hollywood Movies for Parenting Tips

Last updated on May 31, 2017 by TT Staff Leave a Comment

Throughout many famous and award-winning Hollywood movies, parents impart wisdom and advice to their children. From comedies to dramas, the parent and child relationship is always an important one. While Hollywood movies are, of course,  fictional, their themes and messages can still apply to real life relationships. Look to the screenwriters in Southern California to help you teach your teenager some valuable life lessons. Below are some of our favorite Hollywood parenting tips:

To Kill A Mockingbird

“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view, until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.” – Atticus Finch

Atticus Finch is a father of wisdom and courage. He raises his children to accept everyone, especially in a changing world. Like Atticus, you, too, should teach your teenage son or daughter to avoid judging other people. As an outsider, it’s impossible for you to know what they’re going through, so rather than condemning others for their differences, it’s far better to simply accept that you don’t know everything and to treat that person with love and respect.

Big Daddy

“You can be scared that I might get pick-pocketed in a bad neighborhood or break my legs skiing. But don’t be scared about me being a dad because I will not fail. I love this kid too much. I love him as much as you love me, Dad. I’m gonna give him advice, and I’m gonna guide him. And I’ll be there whenever he needs me.”– Sonny Koufax

Although Big Daddy is admittedly an unlikely place to search for parenting tips, the movie does provide a message that is very important for teens to learn: Like Sonny- a lazy, unaccomplished manchild- no parent is perfect. Although most parents are much better off than Sonny, like every other human being, parents will make their fair share of mistakes. As teens age and mature, they will probably come to learn this on their own, but it’s important for you to remind them that despite Mom and Dad’s shortcomings, you are trying your absolute best. And just because you aren’t a perfect person doesn’t mean that you don’t still know what’s best for them.

Forrest Gump

“Life is like a box of chocolates, Forrest. You never know what you’re gonna get.” -Mrs. Gump

When Forrest Gump asks his mother what his destiny will be, she responds with this clever quote to teach Forrest that he cannot plan every detail of his life. You should also impart this lesson to your teen. You never know where life will take you, so rather than stressing about those things that take you by surprise, it’s better to try your best to adjust to them and move on. Learning to adapt to change is one of the most important skills you can teach your teenage son or daughter.

Even with the guidance of those who came before you, parenting through the teenage years can be extremely difficult. If things have gotten out of control, there’s no shame in admitting that you need the help of an expert. The qualified staff at Christian boarding schools are an excellent resource for helping you and your family through the trying teenage years. Specializing in treating troubled and at-risk teens, these schools approach education with a balance of discipline and love, and their methods have helped countless teens transform into intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually healthy young adults.

Filed Under: Family

Family Vacations With the Not-So-Excited Teen

Last updated on May 21, 2017 by TT Staff Leave a Comment

As a parent, you realize your golden years with your children are rapidly ending. As children become teenagers, they’ll likely try to assert their independence by asking to go on trips with friends instead of with Mom and Dad or by asking to stay home while the rest of the family goes on vacation. However, despite your teen’s lack of enthusiasm, there are ways to ensure that the whole family has a good time on vacation- even your teenager. So rather than dragging them along, kicking and screaming, and allowing them to spoil the rest of the family’s fun, consider the following tips to help you plan a great vacation that the whole family will enjoy:

Don’t crowd them.

Crowding into a basic, two bedroom hotel room with one bathroom and five people is not fun. Stress and tension will build as family members fight over outlet space and who they have to share a bed with. Instead, consider spending a extra few dollars to book a second room. Allowing each family member- especially teenagers- to have their own personal space will go a long way in ensuring that everyone remains levelheaded and happy throughout the trip.

Let them invite a friend.

If your family can afford it, consider allowing your teen to bring one of their friends along on your trip. At this stage in their lives, many teens value their friends as much as they value their family, so allowing them to bring a friend along on your trip could be a great way to make everyone happy. Your teen is happy because they don’t feel isolated from their group of friends while they’re away, and the rest of the family is happy because your teen is happy. In this situation, everybody wins.

Give everyone some responsibility.

No teen wants to go on a vacation in which they’re dragged around from place to place with little say in activities. To combat this, consider giving everyone some responsibility in planning the trip. For example, set a rotating schedule dictating who gets to choose the restaurants and attractions that your family visits that day.

Make time for activities that they’ll enjoy, too.

The last thing your teenager wants to do is be trapped at an amusement pack wearing mouse ears and riding spinning tea cups all day. Instead, pick a destination where your teen will be happy. Many resorts or attractions have teenager-friendly activities that can spark excitement in your otherwise unenthusiastic teen. If you set aside part of your trip especially for your teenager, they will feel much more included.

Make an effort.

Although resistant at times, teenagers still do love their parents. Show affection and love as you spend time at new destinations, and rather than stressing about getting from place to place, try to take the time to enjoy the laughs and smiles. Tell stories of your past, and connect with your teenage son or daughter. Communicating freely will strengthen your relationship and will help you build memories that will last a lifetime.

Traveling with teenagers is never an easy task, and parenting through the teenage years can be extremely difficult. If things have gotten out of control, there’s no shame in admitting that you need the help of an expert. The qualified staff at Christian boarding schools are an excellent resource for helping you and your family through the trying teenage years. Specializing in treating troubled and at-risk teens, these schools approach education with a balance of discipline and love, and their methods have helped countless teens transform into intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually healthy young adults.

Filed Under: Family

Teen Facebook Use

Last updated on May 11, 2017 by TT Staff Leave a Comment

Facebook is a great way to connect with friends, both old and new, and to see what is happening in the lives of others. You can stay in touch with distant relatives, old friends, and former classmates. However, despite Facebook’s benefits, it’s all too easy to fall into the traps of this social networking site.

Facebook is a place for everyone, especially young people, to express their individuality and uniqueness in a safe environment. It is important, though, for every user to represent themselves authentically. Teenagers, and all users, should say and act as they would in real life.

It is easy to get wrapped up in the anonymity and distance of the Internet. A simple rule to follow is to not post anything that you would not want your parents to see. As a teen on Facebook, be sure to only accept friend requests of people you know.

It’s also important that you never share your password with anyone. It may not seem like it, but friends come and go when you’re a teenager, and the people you trusted with your password yesterday could make it their mission to ruin your online reputation tomorrow. It’s therefore best to keep your private information… well, private.

Below are some more tips for keeping social networking a positive experience.

It’s okay to block bullies.

Bullies are everywhere online, and sometimes it can seem impossible to escape their negative attitudes. But instead of giving in to their demeaning presence, simply use Facebook’s handy features to report and/or block them. You can report behavior that violates Facebook’s terms of use completely confidentially, meaning no one will ever find out that it was you who reported the bully.

Finally, always tell an adult you trust about the messages, as well, because if the person continues to bully you, you may need this adult to step in.

Don’t let anonymity change you.

The internet has a strange way of changing people’s personalities. People that are normally kind and respectful can change into ruthless and arrogant posters as soon as they sit behind a computer. This is mostly because the internet creates a distance between people, making the impact of bullying less immediately obvious. However, it’s important to resist the urge to bully others while hiding behind your computer.

When posting, ask yourself first if the post will hurt someone or if it could eventually come back to haunt you. Your friends, classmates, and teachers may hear about it later, so be sure you feel confident in your post. Anything you post can be copied or shared with others, so avoid having to apologize to others by taking the time to think before you post.

Make time for real life, too.

Although it sounds silly, recent research has revealed that many Americans are addicted to Facebook. The social networking site helps people procrastinate on an assignments, chores, and homework, and excess Facebook use can also lead to depression, stress, and anxiety.

A recent study from the American Academy of Pediatrics shows that the more time an adolescent spends on social media, the more likely they are to develop symptoms of depression. Since Facebook gives a skewed view of the way things are, teens who rely on the site to give them their view of the world will come away with a very warped impression of the way the world works.

Facebook can also become a huge waste of time, which can prevent teens from developing hobbies. Also, if you spend all of your time online, how will you ever make friends in real life? Avoid letting Facebook take over your life, and limit the amount of time you spend on the site.

Surviving the teenage years can be extremely difficult, and if things have gotten out of control, there’s no shame in admitting that you need the help of an expert. The qualified staff at a Christian boarding school is an excellent resource for helping you and your family through the trying teenage years. Specializing in treating troubled and at-risk teens, these schools approach education with a balance of discipline and love, and their methods have helped countless teens transform into intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually healthy young adults.

Filed Under: Communication

Teenage Love: How to Know if You Love Someone

Last updated on March 10, 2017 by TT Staff Leave a Comment

My sixteen-year-old cousin recently told me that she is in love with her fifteen-year-old boyfriend. My response: “Are you crazy?!” With every discussion ending with her simply declaring, “I just do,”  I eventually reached the conclusion that my teenage cousin probably didn’t love the boy she was dating; she simply liked the idea of being in love.

While many people are terrified of those three simple words, teenagers today seem to throw them around very carelessly. If a teen says, “I love you” after only dating a person for three weeks, then chances are, their love isn’t the real deal. So are your feelings for your significant other really love? Or are they just the result of hormones and a crush? The questions below should help you determine whether or not your teen love is the real thing:

What do you like about your significant other?

Make a list of the good and bad that your boyfriend or girlfriend has to offer. Maybe they have a sparkling smile or listen to you when you are sad. Looking over this list after you’re finished writing it should help you to see if your feelings are superficial or if you actually connect with the other person on an emotional level.

What angers or upsets you about them?

If there are little things now that bother or annoy you, focus on them. The little things have a tendency to add up to bigger things and cannot always be fixed. Thinking honestly about whether you can truly tolerate these small annoyances for a long period of time should help to open your eyes as to your true feelings.

How does your significant other feel?

“It takes two to tango,” as they say, and it takes hard work from both parties to make a relationship work over the long term. If your boyfriend or girlfriend is not on the same page as you, true love will be difficult- and probably impossible- to accomplish.

What are your dreams and aspirations?

Your dreams are important. If your boyfriend wants to work on his family farm for the rest of his life and you want to live in a big city and pursue an acting career, there will definitely be trouble later on. Never, ever let another individual stop you from living your dreams.

What are their dreams and aspirations?

Your significant other will have hopes and dreams, too, so be sure that you agree with what they want to do with their life. It’s crucial that after hearing your significant other’s hopes and dreams, you can still see yourself being a part of their future. Looking realistically at the future is important for every couple who thinks they’re in love.

Do you trust the other person?

Trust is a huge factor in every relationship. If you have any inclination that your significant other is untrustworthy, then it will be extremely difficult for you to truly love them. A relationship that lacks trust is a relationship that is doomed to fail.

Do you have the same beliefs?

Beliefs are a beautiful thing, but if your significant other does not respect your views, then your beliefs could become a huge sticking point for years to come. So whether it’s your morals, religion, or political views, it’s very important that your boyfriend or girlfriend respect your opinions. They don’t necessarily have to share your same beliefs, but they must, at the very least, be willing to “agree to disagree.”

Would you introduce them to your parents?

Your parents want what is best for you, obviously, so whether you want to admit it or not, it’s important that they approve of your significant other. You may not think that their opinion matters, but if they disapprove of your girlfriend or boyfriend, they do have the power to forbid you from seeing them, something that could destroy any teenage relationship. To prevent this from happening, be sure your significant other is someone who your parents would approve of.

Young love can be trilling, but every relationship should be well thought out. As for my young cousin? Well, there are some lessons that people need to learn on their own, so all I could do was offer her my advice: Young love can feel like the most important thing right now, but true love is worth the wait in the end.

Surviving the teenage years can be extremely difficult, and if things have gotten out of control in your life, there’s no shame in admitting that you need the help of an expert. The qualified staff at certain boarding schools are an excellent resource for helping you and your family through the trying teenage years. Specializing in treating troubled and at-risk teens, some boarding schools approach education with a balance of discipline and love, and their methods have helped countless teens transform into intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually healthy young adults.

Filed Under: Behavior & Emotions

Anorexia and your Body

Last updated on September 15, 2016 by TT Staff Leave a Comment

Noticing other women’s weight is a common habit for many women, but sometimes this habit can become unhealthy. In extreme cases, people can obsess over their weight so much that they develop an eating disorder. Teenagers are the most at-risk group for developing anorexia. As they try to fit in with others and attract members of the opposite sex, many young people (both men and women, although more commonly women) starve themselves to improve their self esteem.

In reality, eating disorders are not a healthy method for improving self image. Anorexia is usually conjures images of an individual refusing to eat, moving food around their plate instead of eating it, constantly claiming they aren’t hungry, and doing everything in their power to avoid eating. However, anorexia can also refer to obsessive exercise, where an individual exercises excessively to lose weight.

Individuals with anorexia are sick more often than healthy individuals, and they become very skinny and pale. Emotional problems, such as moodiness and sadness, often develop in anorexic individuals. Many people with anorexia deny they have a problem. They will resist keeping a normal body weight and they will have an intense fear of gaining weight.

Below are a list of specific body parts that anorexia impacts negatively.

Brain and Nerves

Without proper nourishment, the brain is not able to regulate itself properly. Mood is often the first thing affected, and anorexic individuals often become sad, moody, and irritable. Other side effects on the brain include impaired memory, fainting, and changes in brain chemistry.

Hair

Individuals with anorexia often have thin, brittle, and lackluster hair. In extreme cases, anorexic individuals have been known to lose their hair.

Heart

Anorexia can cause low blood pressure, slow heart rate, heart palpitations, and even heart failure.

Blood

An individual with anorexia is prone in anemia and other serious blood disorders.

Muscles, Joints, and Bones

Individuals with anorexia often experience weak muscles and painfully swollen joints. They can also suffer from bone loss, easy fractures, and osteoporosis.

Kidneys

Anorexia has been known to cause kidney stones and kidney failure in affected individuals.

Body Fluids

Individuals suffering from anorexia often have low potassium, magnesium, and sodium levels, which can have a very negative impact on the body’s health in terms of energy levels, mood, etc.

Intestines

Anorexia can cause an individual to be constipated and bloated.

Hormones

For women suffering from anorexia, periods can stop. Many of these women have problems growing and getting pregnant. If pregnant and anorexic, women have a higher risk for a miscarriage, postpartum depression, requiring a C-section, and having a baby with a dangerously low birth weight.

Skin

Individuals suffering from anorexia can bruise easily and develop a growth of fine hair all over their body. They also tend to have dry skin, brittle nails, and yellow skin, and they get cold much more easily than healthy individuals.

Get Help

If you or someone you know is suffering from anorexia, the best thing you can do is get help. A doctor, nurse, or counselor can help you, your friend, or your son or daughter overcome this serious problem. If you suspect that your teen could have an eating disorder or could be engaging in other types of unhealthy or dangerous behavior, it could be time for you to seek help from an outside source. One great source of help for at-risk teens are Christian boarding schools. At these schools, students are rehabilitated through a time-tested and individualized program consisting of both discipline and reward. Students receive the love and guidance they need to transition from a troubled teen into an emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually healthy young adult.

Filed Under: Eating Disorders

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