radioFirebreak  

It seems to be the catchphrase of the times.  Government grants worth millions of dollars use the word, social service professionals, educators, law enforcement; the list goes on!  They are throwing around the word “at-risk” pretty freely!  In my years of working with youth and their parents I learned a very important lesson.  If we as a community are going to truly affect the growing problem of the seemingly valueless, apathetic,  youth who are growing-up to be in control of society soon, then we have to be ready to look at these kids as human beings in great need of positive connection, rather than as a category of kids who seem beyond hope!  I am the first person to admit that the term “at-risk” is helpful in defining a group of people as a group, but that is where it must stop.  When we designed Hope Learning Academy and began building our intervention method for teenagers and their parents, we recognized from our years attending the school of “hard-knocks” that we must connect with these teenagers and build relationships with them if we are going to gain ground against the lack of values among them and the apathy they have.  These relationships are the first place that many parents should start with their kids.  Many of the teenagers and parents that we work with and coach have lost touch with each other.  We build relationships with the teenagers that we mentor at Hope Learning Academy, but that will never be a replacement for the solid foundation that a teenager has when his parents are being incredible stewards of their relationship with him/her!  I know what some of you are thinking right now! No, I’m not psychic, I’ve just heard it all before: “He doesn’t care what I have to say!” “They never come out of their room!”  “All we ever do is fight!” and the quotes could fill blog page after blog page.  Regardless of the reason you have that you think magically makes you the exception to the rule, I am here to tell you that you can take control of relating to your child and there are some things that you can do right now….

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