The Watcher

2/17/12 -Fri.

Here's an article I read.

Stereotypes Can Fuel Teen Misbehavior


This article was very interesting in the way that this was worded. It says that us teens, could possibly be affected if our parents have low standards for us. Paraphrased, if they start to expect druggies and potheads coming home, well, that could contribute to that becoming a reality if they expect it.

Although I do agree with this research, I feel that expecting a child to be good, with good grades and positive friends, well, that could go either way. They could try and be good and end up being put under pressure from parents and other pressuring teens. Another way it might happen is the teen could end up horrible for various reasons, including simply not being an Einstein, drinking, or smoking and get punished because their parents expect better. With in all this, there is a web knit so tightly, you can barely see through it. It's made of "what if's?" What if the child has clinical depression? What if the only people that will talk to them are the potheads? What if they started a sport, not knowing what they were getting into? What if they get hazed? What if they stayed up too late studying to remember that it was their parent's birthday. What if that parent is abusive? What if, what if, what if. I could go on all day. Like I said, parents attitudes towards their teenagers can affect how they "turn out".

I think the few things that really affect how teens turn out are willpower, street smarts, good self esteem and a supportive community.

-Willpower for resistance to negative peer pressure.

-Street smarts so they know when it's not safe to be down town and when it's time to leave.

-Good self esteem to stand against snide remarks and comments.

-Supportive community to get them help if needed and keep them lifted up, on their way to their dreams.