Posts filed under ‘Teen Issues’
Keeping Our Kids Safe on Mobile Devices
I wish I could personally hand this article to every parent of every teenager in America. Take a look here:
MTV Movie Awards
Sunday night my family pulled into our garage after a week’s worth of vacationing. I hauled in the girls’ bags and unpacked my one small bag before plopping on the bed and tuning into MTV’s Movie Awards 2010. I’m not a fan of MTV, but I love teenagers and want to know what’s going on in their world.
The show was shocking to say the least. Let’s just say even the guy with his hand on the “bleep” button must have gotten cramps or blisters or something from pushing the button so much and just given up. A few of the lowest points for me included the use of the “F” word more times than I’ve ever heard before, awards with profanity in the award titles (like “best scared-as-sh** performance” and “best WTF moment”), and girls kissing girls and guys kissing guys (not just innocent kisses on the cheek either). So why would I choose to write about this here?
BECAUSE YOUR KIDS ARE WATCHING THIS STUFF!!!
It’s not because you’re doing a horrible job as a parent. It’s because they are kids and this is the stuff kids watch. And if your kids aren’t watching it, their friends are. Trust me, they are deeply, deeply influenced by what happens at the MTV Movie Awards. These actors, actresses, and musicians are investing in the lives of your kids by what they say and do on screen, at an awards show, on television, on the radio, in magazines, and on the internet. They are creating trends, defining culture, and shaping worldviews. I don’t know about you, but this terrifies me as a parent!
There’s nothing I can do about what MTV airs. There’s nothing I can do about what celebrities say or do. What I can do is make sure that I’m investing more into the life of my daughter than they are. I’m not talking about monetary investments or providing every day needs. I’m not talking about providing opportunities for my daughter to be the best athlete or musician.
I am talking about pouring into my daughter’s life every day what God is pouring into my life. That takes time…both quality and quantity. That takes energy…whether I have the energy or not. That takes sacrifice. That takes discipline…I can’t pour into her life if I haven’t allowed God to pour into my life. That takes commitment.
MTV has already made the commitment to shape our teenagers’ lives. Parents, we need to be aware of this. It’s not hard to see the evidence. Just take a look at your kid’s Facebook page (and your kid DOES have a Facebook page). If you don’t have your own Facebook yet, create one…TODAY. Watch the conversations that take place between your kids and their friends on Facebook. Study the information pages. If you’re not familiar with the music they are listening to, get online and listen to it.
WAIT!!! Whatever you do, don’t get mad and ground your kid for the next 6 months after you take a look. They will just “unfriend” you and go on about their life. And don’t live in denial that your kid is exposed to and influenced by the world around them. Dialogue with your kids about music, conversations, their friends, and the MTV Movie Awards. Bring everything back to the truth…what does God teach us in His Word about this?
It can be a daunting task even for the most seasoned parent. I’m not an expert. My daughter doesn’t even know what MTV is yet. I’m going to screw up, fall on my face, say the wrong thing, and make her mad at me. But I will never give up or give in. And neither should you.
My next few blog posts will include some ideas, suggestions, resources, and tools for you to keep up with what is going on in the life of your teenager and how you approach those issues.
What’s The Deal With Guys?
I read a lot of articles every day. This one caught and captured my attention as this is an issue I deal with every day. It’s worth sharing because I know it’s an issue many of you deal with every day as well. Take a look at the article here and let me know your thoughts.
Sports and Faith
Walt Mueller of the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding wrote this article titled “Turf Worship” last fall. The article is a great reminder and encouragement for those of us who have kids that play sports as well as for those of us who have kids that may someday play sports.
Sexting…You Need to Know About This
I have become increasingly more aware of the term sexting and the practice of sexting among teenagers. This blog addresses it well and includes a video from MSNBC. Please take the time to check it out and talk to your kids about it.
Teens and Music
Walt Mueller is one of the leading thinkers, speakers, and authors on contemporary youth culture. I came across this article today called Teens and Popular Music–Should We Turn It Off or Talk About It? It’s a pretty long article, but definitely worth the read, especially if your teen listens to music…(By the way, your teen does listen to music)
The Dreaded Trip to the Mall (grab a cup of joe)
I came across this article this morning. I am so thankful for Godly men who will take a stand when it comes to clothes for their kids. I pray that I will be able to approach the whole clothing issue with this kind of wisdom and grace.
