Parenting a child is one of the most crucial, hardest, and thankless jobs in existence. One of the best ways to prepare teens to become successful adults is within their own homes and communities. Parents are the key role models and first guides to their children; communities help when parents aren’t present. It is up to the parents to set boundaries, while still showing love and affection, and taking time to be with their kids. Although teenagers will make their own choices, a good home life can increase the odds that teens will make the most out of their lives and do good.
An in-person interview with a troubled teenager was conducted on October 10th, 2018. With his permission, he is allowing his story to be told. This individual’s name is Nathan. Nathan was raised like many other 17-year-old boys. He enjoyed playing sports (golf, baseball, football, etc.), was active in his church, did well in school, and had two married parents who loved him. For Nathan, it all started when he was around 15 to 16 years old. One day, Nathan started hanging around with a new group of people at school. These new “friends” of his liked to do the exact things they weren’t supposed to do. They would ditch school, consume alcohol, do drugs, and even shoplift. It wasn’t long after Nathan started hanging out with his new friends that he also started to partake in the same things they were doing. This lead Nathan down a bit of a dark path.
Nathan started stealing alcohol from his parents and also started paying people to buy him booze. He also started smoking pot. Between the pot and alcohol, Nathan wasn’t sober very often. When asked where he got his money to buy these products, he said that he mowed lawns and did snow removal for people around the neighborhood. Nathan’s parents eventually caught on when he started ditching school. Nathan went to school one day and when the bus dropped him off, he walked home knowing his parents would be gone. When he got home, he called himself in and pretended to be his dad. When the school listened to the message, they called Nathan’s dad and asked if he had called Nathan in because the voice (Nathan’s) seemed off in the message left for the school. Nathan said that his dad called him on his cell phone and said, “get to school now.”
After this incident happened, Nathan and his parents sat down together in Nathan told them what he had been doing. Nathans parents started doing randomized drug tests, keeping all alcohol locked up, bringing him to school daily, and even started doing family counseling as well as sending Nathan to a psychiatrist. Nathan was kept on a “short leash.” By doing this though, Nathan was able to turn his life around and get back to normal.
Being a teen is a “time of many physical, mental, emotional, and social changes” (Center, 2017). These changes can be hard on an individual. It is important for adolescents to keep positive role models (teachers, church leaders, and coaches) in their lives as well as to know that these changes are part of life and that its ok. During this period, a teen may come across “peer pressure to use alcohol, tobacco products, and drugs, and to have sex” (Center, 2017). It is important for teens to not give in to peer pressure and if it is becoming too hard to say no, talk to a role model you trust.
