When Homework and Texting mix, it’s nothing to LOL about

Does your teen know the difference between formal and informal writing?  Informal writing now includes, texting (OMG, LOL, L8R), emoticons ( like or or ), or the social networking site lingo. And formal writing is not anywhere close to that.

According to a recent study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project, it is becoming more increasingly common that informal writing is making it’s way into the formal writing projects of students.  Here is the full article.

Check out my pic…

That cell phone in your pocket…it’s much more than a cell phone, right?  I mean, mine has a video camera, a regular camera, I can send text, email, and I still have the ability to make phone calls.  Would you believe me if I told you that your teens have found ways to use their cell phone for courtship rituals.

Students are now using their phones to flirt, gauge interest of the other sex, and even send pics to each other!  That’s cool, but here is where it gets dangerous.  Students are sending nude photos of themselves, and even pictures of them performing sex acts.

Are you shocked?  Well, here is the amazing thing.  I found this article on foxnews.com talking about teen cell phone use…and it comes from Columbus, OH. Click on the link to read the article!

What makes a good teenager?

In preparation for this Sunday Night and our Family Night at Cross Current, I need you teenagers to answer these questions:

1. What makes a good teenager? 
List some qualities that you think would make a good teen.  Think about the kind of teen you would want your teen to be!

2. What makes a bad teen? 
Do me a favor- if you read this, send me an email with your answers!

Youth Golf Outing- Thursday March 27th (Parents invited too)

Hey it’s Spring Break and your teenagers need something to do.  So we’re going golfing.  We have quite a few golfers in our youth group, so this is going to be a blast
Thursday, March 27th (during spring break) we will going to Turnberry Golf Course for a round of golf.  Here is the info that you need to know:

Who: Any youth golfers and parents
When: Thursday, March 27th at 1:00pm
Meet at Turnberry Golf Course (Click here for directions)
Cost: $20 per adult (walking 18 holes)
          $17 per student (walking 18 holes)
Cart Rental: $13 per person (only adults 18 and over can drive a cart so if you don’t have an adult, you can’t rent a cart)

We are going to have a blast.  To sign up (this helps me prepare), just drop Scott an email and let him know if you (and your teen) will be joining us for a day on the course!!!

No Cross Current Tonight

Due to the amount of snow and the road conditions, we will not be having Cross Current tonight!  Enjoy the time with your family!

To keep it interesting with the students, we are having a snow fort/igloo building competition.  So go outside, find one of those big piles of snow, and carve yourself out a fort or igloo.  Be Creative!!! Then snap a picture or two and send them to Scott! 

I’ll post the pics on the student blog, and we will have voting.  An award will be given next Sunday Night at Cross Current for the best snow fort/igloo.

So get building!!!

Could Your Teen give up their Cell Phone?

The results say: highly unlikely.  Some researchers in Canada asked student to give up their cell phones for a weekend, and then asked them how they feel.  The answers range from “detached” to “deprived” to just all out “depressed”!

Most students could go one day without it, but any more than that would be painful!  I’ve never been a big fan of anyone who doesn’t drive having a cell phone, but I must say that they have become the key communication tool of teens around the world.  And many of the teens use them to communicate with their parents, then with friends.

But it makes me feel old, knowing that I didn’t get a cell phone until I got out of college…

Is the “Big Talk” all that Big?

There is an emphasis in the beginning of the teen years to have the “big talk” with your student about sex- the issues, the consequences, the dangers.  And I hope you have had the “big talk” with your student.  I hope the lines of communication are open so that you can continue to talk to them about issues surrounding sex.

But I have to wonder, is “the big talk” necessary?  Perhaps we have made too much of a big deal about the “big talk”.  I believe that some parents think to themselves, ‘Well, I’ve had the “big talk” so I am done with that uncomfortable situation.’  Is that healthy?

I’m trying to think about my life as a teenager.  Were there other subjects that my parents just had one talk with me about and then never brought it up again?  For example. did they sit me down one time and explain how to drive a car, and then never talk or teach me about it again? No.  In my sports life, do my coaches show me one time how to do something, then never make mention of it again?  No.  So why do we do that with the subject of sex?  I think the top reason is that it is an uncomfortable situation and we want to deal with it in the quickest way possible.

But guess what? Knowing that 46% of all high school students are sexually active (and that is just the number of those willing to tell the truth) tells me that the one time “big talk” just isn’t effective.  Maybe we need to re-think the way we teach our students about sex. 

I found an interesting article that calls a little about that.  You wouldn’t teach your kids about anything else with just one “big talk”, so maybe its time to redo how we talk to our kids about “doing it”!

P.O.D.- Parent Open Discussion

***Please note the change of date.  P.O.D. Meeting will take place Saturday, March 15th at 10am instead of originally scheduled Friday, March 14th.***

I always find it interesting that youth pastors are expected to help parents raise their teenagers biblically, when in truth, most youth pastors either have no kids or toddlers.  I feel like I am not qualified to give you parenting advice, however I can offer biblical assistance for raising children.  But on the practical side of parenting teens, that is where I lack experience.

Which is why we are starting P.O.D.- Parent Open Discussions. 

What is P.O.D.?
P.O.D.’s are going to be a roundtable discussion of sorts, soley for parents of teens.  In a effort to help you handle the issues your teen is facing, we want to facilitate discussion with other parents who may have already dealt with the same issue, are currently dealing with the same issue, or may be at the point where they know they will face this issue. P.O.D. is designed to let parents of teens help, comfort, encourage, other parents of teens as we go along this journey together.
Why P.O.D.?
Because no parent has all the answers.  Let’s face it, there is not a class you take before you become parents, it’s kind of a learn on the job type of thing.  So who couldn’t use some assistance?  This is a practical way for parents to get help from other parents.  And who knows, youmay just help someone else in the process.  And I believe we call that biblical community.
How’s P.O.D. work?
As we gather, you will have a chance to write out topics, questions, issues, that you would like to discuss.  We will put the cards in a basket and select one at a time, discussing the issue drawn.  If you are not comfortable putting your name on the card with your question or issue, you can leave it anonymous.  Remember, we are just starting this so we may tweak the proces as we go along.

Our first P.O.D.- Parent Open Discussion will take place on Saturday, March 15th at 10am in foyer room 1 at SCC.  Please let Scott know if you are planning on attending.

Is your teenager lying to you?

Right now, answer that question.  You either answered yes, no or i’m not sure.  Let me ask you this question, Do you lie?  If the answer is yes, then what makes you so sure that your teen doesn’t lie?  We talk about little white lies, like telling the telemarketer on the phone that you are not the owner of the house, or teaching our kids to swallow their dissapointment and act like they like that gift from grandma(because it is the polite thing to do).

Let’s face it- Most Teens lie.  And it doesn’t start in the teenager years.  My 3 year old daughter lies.  I have proof.  But where do they learn to lie? 

I found this interesting article about why teens lie. It’s a good read- I suggest every parent read it.  Let me give you a few facts that they point out in the study that the article is written about:

- 98% of teens surveryed agreed that trust and honesty are essential to healthy personal relationships- with parents, friends, family, etc.  (That’s good news)
- Depending on their age, 96% to 98% of teens surveyed said that lying is morally wrong (That’s more good news- the message is being understood)
- Of the students surveyed, 98% of teens reported lying to their parents about one of the 36 topics covered- what they spend their allowances on, if chaperones will be at a party, who they are hanging out with, what movie they went to, alcohol or drug use, etc.
- On average, a teen was lying to their parents about 12 of the 36 topics discusse
- The survey discovered that being an honor student in school did not change the numbers significantly

Obviously we have an issue here.  The question is how do we address it?  I would love to hear suggestions from parents.  I have a few ideas, but I want to see what you as parents are thinking right now.  Let’s start a conversation…leave a comment

What does it mean to be a Christian Family?

This subject was brought up last Sunday in our morning class.  In passing, a remark was made about being raised in a Christian Family. All week, I have struggled with this statement- a Christian Family.

I think it should be interesting.  I believe my view of a Christian family has changed over the past few years, based on my experiences.  But I think too often we take those terms for granted.  Did you grow up in a Christian family? Yes, but my Christian family is nothing like your Christian family.  So what is a Christian family?

So I thought I would bring it to the parent blog and open a discussion.  Please feel free to comment, argue or whatever it is.  I am opening this discussion with a few questions to get you started:

1. How would you define a Christian Family?
2. What would that family look like?

Please leave comments, and check back often to see what others think.  Hopefully, we can figure out together what a true Christian family looks like?