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We’re
Teaching This:
When
was the last time you felt totally out of control? Maybe it was when your car
hydroplaned, just for a second. Or maybe your plans got changed at the last
minute leaving you with nothing to do. Or maybe a friend or family member’s
behavior left you shaking your head. We all have moments like that—moments that
leave us feeling tense, anxious, and wondering how we’re supposed to handle it
all. The problem is, sometimes those out-of-control moments end up becoming a
regular part of our lives. Whether it is with the stress and uncertainty of our
future, the pressure that comes with our relationships with others or even the
anxiety of where we are with God, chaos can start to feel like it’s everywhere.
It’s no surprise that God never intended for our lives to be defined by stress.
Thankfully He doesn’t tell us to handle it on our own, either. He invites us to
bring our worries and anxiety to
Him. And when do, we find that He doesn’t just remove the chaos from our lives.
He replaces it with something better—peace.
Think
About This:
Do
you think your teen is more stressed than you were at his or her age? According
to CNN’s Kelly Wallace, most parents would say, “Absolutely”. In her article, SOS for Stressed Out Teens on CNN.com (http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/05/living/teen-stress-overscheduled-parents/),
Wallace suggests that, along with heightened academic stakes and overscheduled
lifestyles, social media may add to the expectations that leave teens feeling
stressed.
Today's teens, unlike when I was growing up, can now compare their
academic performance and everything else about their existence to other teens
24 hours a day through updates on Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, you name the
social network, and that only increases the stress.
"Back in the day, we got a break from our peers after school
and on the weekends, but now kids are on social media all day long," said
Linda Esposito, a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist in Los
Angeles and host of a blog on psychotherapy called Talk Therapy Biz.
Social media and the constant
connectedness of technology has no doubt changed the game for our students and
added to the stress they experience. And, there’s no reason to believe that the
constant “ping” of notifications is going to slow down anytime soon. So, as
parents, it’s more important than ever that we help our students learn to cope
when they feel anxiety. A few ways to make sure this happens?
Model healthy behavior. As
parents become more proficient with technology, more of our own anxiety come
from being connected to work 24/7. If you catch yourself being “mentally
elsewhere” while spending time with the family, intentionally turn your device
off and let your student know why you’re doing it.
Take breaks from technology. There’s
something about the buzz of a new notification that feels urgent even when it
isn’t. As a family, try taking breaks from technology. It doesn’t have to be
for long periods of time, but just an hour of real “connectedness” to each
other can help manage stress levels and reset students’ anxiety.
Try
This
Sometimes
the best tool for managing stress is to take a time out.
Try having a
disconnected dinner with your family.
Once
a week, at the beginning of dinner, have everyone drop their mobile devices in
a basket, including the parents. It’s a symbolic way of saying to your student,
“This time is important. And I’m all here”.
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