Aaron Reddin onLife, Liberty, and Pursuit of Jesusness

Today I spent the first half of my day in a workshop called Inside the Teenage Brain, given by MidSOUTH Prevention Institute.  I love anything that MidSOUTH has going on because it’s always so beneficial to anything I’m working on, treatment or prevention. 

Cathy Hagemeier, M.Ed., began the session by asking us to name three words that described the “typical” teenager.  I was somewhat shocked when I heard the words that were listed by 29 adults, to describe teens.  Here are the ones given aloud:

Opinionated, moody, annoying, know it all, hungry (mine), dramatic, aggressive, antisocial, liars, confrontational, brats, persistent, needy, confused, manipulative, sensitive…..and then one educator finally spoke up and said FUN!!

Teens are some of the most determined and influential people groups we have!  They are energetic and passionate!  They ARE fun! 

Why does a group of adults fail to see the awesomeness that is our youth?  Here are a list of things that I think better describe most teenagers:

Determined – They aren’t as quick to quit when faced with a challenge.  Some may, but for the most part they are very resilient and push through much adversity. 

Exciting – Every hour is a new hour, there’s little room for boredom.

Teachable – Though most may think they have it all together long before they do, they’re not so stuck in the past that you can’t teach them something new.

Real – Though most teens are spending a lot of time trying to figure out who they are, they will always tell you like it is.  They’re not afraid to be transparent. 

There are many strong and valuable qualities that kids possess, and it’s high time we give them a little credit. 

What words would you use to describe your teen?  Would you want your kids to hear the words that you would choose?  Do you ever look for their strengths and help them capitalize on them?  I realized today just how crucial the teenage years are in one’s life, and I will never approach them the same again.