I spent eleven years as a high school counselor so I was
not surprised by an article I recently read.
According to the article, many high school students spend two hours or
more each night doing homework. If they
are involved in any extra-curricular activities such as music, drama or sports,
the result can be a full schedule. The
end result is the stress level among high school students can be high. Ten to twelve hours days for high school
student might not be uncommon. That is
something that parents and those who work with teens need to keep in mind.
For those trying to minister to teens in a church setting
it can be frustrating. They spend time
building relationship with middle school years students. After confirmation they invest a couple of
years equipping them to be leaders within the youth group, only to see them do
a disappearing act once they become high school juniors. The same students who are leaders in the
church youth group also are leaders at school.
Unfortunately one reality is their schedule leaves little time for
church youth activities. It underscores
the need to find alternative ways to stay in touch with them.
For parents it means learning to be flexible and
maximizing the limited time we do have with our teens. It also means not adding to the pressure by
imposing our needs on them. We also need
to understand the difference between being a manager and being a
consultant. We cannot expect to manage
their lives for them. As they get ready
for life on their own that is a skill they need to learn. When they ask for advice or counsel it means providing
it and then stepping back.
The one consistent element should be prayer. We must be constant in our prayers for both
their safety and their spiritual well-being.
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