Christmas movies are heartwarming, but they also hold lessons that are especially relevant for adolescents. What can teens learn from Elf? Read and find out.
Support Groups Articles and Episodes
Teenagers are longing for caring adults to take the time to connect. Check out our time-tested resources on leading support groups and building life changing relationships.
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Curse of the Zombie Teenagers
Sometimes as a new mom, I feel like I am experiencing a small part of adolescence all over again. Sleepless nights, learning new skills and little control over hormones are just a few things that remind me of those teenage years. The most debilitating of these “symptoms”? Definitely the lack of sleep. I feel like I can barely function some days. While facilitating a Support Group at a local Alternative High School this week, we talked about school and discussed how they felt about it. With only one exception, everyone in the group mentioned tiredness and how it affected their school performance. They were falling asleep at their desks, unable to focus on their work, and too tired to even come to school some days. They were walking Zombies!
The 1% Principle
To change, aim to get 1% better or more regular at doing something each day. This works in our support groups with teens, and my guess is it can work for you!
Strengths Are Better Than Weaknesses
Dr. Becky Taylor talks about the importance of helping teens focus on their strengths rather than their weaknesses with practical tips for real-life situations.
Lessons from “The Bad Kids”
I am a huge fan of Netflix. In the mood for a comedy, drama, thriller or documentary? You can choose from thousands of TV shows and movies. While I typically watch Netflix for personal gain, I recently came across a documentary called The Bad Kids (you can also find it on iTunes and Amazon). I’ll confess – I am not a documentary person. Give me fiction and fairy tales all day! But this particular documentary intrigued me because I work with students just like the ones highlighted in this film. I work with “The Bad Kids” every week, and I wanted to see what I could learn from the heart and work of someone halfway across the country.
The Power of “Me Too”
Earlier this week, we held our 2nd annual Teen Lifeline Fundraising Dinner & Auction, and I am still blown away by the generosity and support that come from this night. One of my favorite parts of the night came when Beverly Ross spoke truth over the audience. If you haven’t heard of Beverly Ross or Wise County Christian Counseling, I would encourage you to go check them out! At this dinner, Beverly Ross challenged us by saying, “We need to teach that it’s not going to be okay. It’s going to be hard, but you’re never going to do it alone.”