Helping Teens From Broken Homes (cont.)
4. Tell teens that expressing love is okay.
No Mother’s or Father’s Day card says, “Sometimes you let me down, but I still love you anyway.” If a student feels like no cards carry fitting sentiments, let them know they can still tell their parents they love them. More importantly, tell them that loving your parents for whoever they are is okay.
For teens from blended or nontraditional families, convey that loving all your parents or those who act as a parent doesn’t minimize your love for anyone else.
You may decide to share some stories of imperfection from your childhood. Don’t share too much or minimize what teens are feeling. But sometimes kids need to know that no family has it all together. Remember that Mother’s Day and Father’s Day aren’t status quo for your whole group.
What do you do at these times of year? Please share comments with other youth ministers below.
This article by Leneita Fix about teens from broken homes was originally published on YouthMinistry.com, © Group Publishing, Inc.
