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Great Expectations?
by Dr. Gary L. Welton
Encouraging positive character development.
Tag: "teens"
Teen Abortion Rate Lowest Since Roe v. Wade Decision
by Randall K. O’Bannon, Ph.D
It is not unexpected, given news of a large recent overall decline in U.S. abortions and abortion rates, but it is encouraging nonetheless to see that the larger downward trend among all women is also being reflected in significantly lower abortion rates among teenagers. The report, “U.S. Teenage Pregnancies, Births and Abortions, 2010: National and […]
Saving Sex: Why My Target Audience Isn’t Teens
by Arleen Spenceley
The other day on Facebook, a reader learned that for my forthcoming book, called Chastity is for Lovers: Single, Happy, and (Still) a Virgin, the target audience is adults, and primarily young ones.* She suggested that in the future, I target teens instead. Another reader, who had asked if the book is fit for teens, suggested […]
The Terrors of the 7th Grade Dance
by Karee Santos
Me to my 7th grade daughter: “You can go to the school dance, but you can’t slow dance with any boys.” My 7th grade daughter: “The principal said we’re not allowed to say no.” This conversation, naturally, almost shocked me into a full-blown panic attack. Then it got worse. Me: “Are you sure that’s what the […]
How to Help Your Daughter Cope with Society’s Pressure to Be Thin
by Sandra McAubre
For generations, American girls have been exposed to unrealistic and even unhealthy images of painfully thin women, and subtly encouraged to fit within a very narrow definition of beauty. While it’s certainly nothing new, this pressure has risen to an unprecedented level in today’s technologically advanced, celebrity-saturated world. Kids spend more time in front of […]
Empowering Our Youth to Make a “Mess”
by Terry McDermott
In one of his World Youth Days homilies, Pope Francis told the throng of enthusiastic young adults that he wants “a mess”. “I want trouble in the dioceses!” he exclaimed. The participants embraced his words, reacting with the customary jubilation we have come to expect every time the Holy Father addresses the crowds. The Holy […]
Modesty: Who’s Responsible?
by Dr. Frank Moncher
Some recent events in the news have highlighted just how difficult it is to affirm modesty as a virtue worth instilling. In one particular instance, a public school principal took a stance for modesty, and may end up in court as a result. The principal refused admittance to two girls attending their high school prom […]
How to Encourage Your Teens to Stay Sexually Pure
by Paul Taylor
Editor’s Note: This article was written for a secular audience and therefore does not approach this issue from a moral standpoint – that premarital sex is wrong. Still, it offers some good ideas for talking with your teens about sex. Whether your teenager’s health classes at school take an abstinence-only approach to sexual education or […]
Book Review: Frozen Footprints
by Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur
Frozen Footprints (Tumblar House, 2012) is the latest contribution to Catholic suspense by Therese Heckenkamp, author of Past Suspicion. I freely admit, suspense is not my genre of choice, but Heckenkamp once again managed to keep me interested and invested in this story. Charlene and Max Perigard are twins, raised by their grandfather, a wealthy […]
Sorry, No Steeples
by Cheryl Dickow
“Sorry, No Steeple…but we do have a drive-thru” is what the clever, cool, hip billboard sign proclaims. I wasn’t exactly sure what it meant so I didn’t pay it much never-mind. Then another one popped up with something that was, to me, similarly vague: We don’t accept perfect people. Still, not paying attention. Then a […]
Why Dads Don’t Talk. And Sons Won’t Listen.
by Roy Sheppard
When you were a teen, did your dad ever talk to you about what it is to be a man? Probably not. And if he did, did you listen? Probably not. When I was growing up I found that my dad was hardly ever there for me. He was a ‘good father’ by being at […]
How to Teach Your Children About the Facts of Life
by Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur
There is something about teaching one’s children about the facts of life that inspires fear in the hearts of parents everywhere. When that day came for my boys and me, I nervously searched my local library for an appropriate book (many I found were clearly not appropriate from a moral standpoint), sat down on the […]
Sexting, Sexcasting, and Moral Foundations
by Stacy Trasancos
Remember in 2005 when we first heard about “sexting”? In a culture where kids grow up inundated with sexual language, sexual images, sexual music, sexual television, sexual education and encouragement to explore their sexual selves — parents, nonetheless, expressed horror to learn that kids were sending nude and sexually suggestive or explicit pictures to each […]
Values, Virtues, and Your Daughter’s Date
by Leila Miller
I’ve been a parent for a long time now, and I have heard many, many parents — in real life, in print, and on television — talk about their ultimate hopes for their children: “I just want my child to be happy.” “I want my child to be successful.” “I want my child to have […]
