by Jim Burns, Ph.D. We need to strive to understand the hurts of adolescence. I’ve written this tip sheet for that express purpose:  to help you understand the hurts of adolescence.

 Following, you will find my top four tips to help learn to discern what is going on in the life of your teen.

1. Become a Student of the Culture.

FOCUS ON THE FAMILY with Dr. James Dobson QUESTION: I’m concerned about sibling rivalry between my two daughters. What are the areas of potential conflict that should be handled with care? DR. DOBSON: There are three areas that are most delicate. First, children are extremely sensitive about the matter of physical attractiveness and body characteristics. It is highly inflammatory to commend one child at the expense of the other. Suppose, for example, that Sharon is permitted to hear the casual remark about her sister:

by Jim Burns, PH.D. The teenage years can be some of the most challenging for kids . . . which means they’re not exactly “a walk in the park” for parents, either! Emotions run wild during adolescence. One minute your 15-year-old is thrilled beyond belief with the way his life is turning out . . . and the next, he wishes he’d “never been born.” Sound familiar?

By Bryan Marmion, Athletic Director & Head Football Coach

As the school year comes to a close I remember a time when schools did the same – closed for the summer. One could drive by the campus for weeks on end without seeing a car in the parking lot, save a nervous teen learning to drive and a more nervous dad riding shotgun. No more. Now, the busyness of sport practices, dance rehearsals and music lessons pay no heed to the calendar. Instead of winding down for the summer, many schools become a hub of summer camp activity.

Fathers, adolescence is a critical time for your children’s development. Studies indicate that when fathers are connected to their kids, they fare substantially better as they make the transition from childhood to adulthood. Though they may not seem to act like it much of the time, dads, your kids need you to be involved in their lives!