Parenting Teens

Since we’re talking about role models (…we are too. shh.) I thought it only appropriate we bring up this latest bunch of BS too. Everyone knows who Miley Cyrus is - daughter of Billy Ray, star of Hannah Montana, beloved by little girls, teens and tweens everywhere, right? I know some moms don’t like her because she’s sassy, and talks back, but well - that mom, superstar or not, is gonna be surprised when her kid hits tween/teen and talks just like that, and she finds out her kid is just like everyone else, despite not watching Hannah - but I digress. Miley’s a big name, beloved by millions. That’s all I’m saying.

Except, apparently, Lucie J. Kim.

In case you’ve lived under a rock, the above picture was taken at a party, and that’s Miley in the middle, making faces, just like the rest of her friends - behind an apparently Asian dude. Naturally, the National Asian League or whatever they call themselves, are in a tizzy because ZOMG she’s making fun of Chinese People! Behind his back! On purpose! Miley was driven to make an ‘apology’ for making funny faces with her friends, yet folks weren’t satisfied that she meant it or that she understood the error of her ways and are demanding more.

$4 Billion more.

According to legal papers filed at LA Court on Wednesday against Miley, Lucie J. Kim claims to represent more then one million Asian Pacific Islanders who live in Los Angeles County, and is seeking $4000, the minimum damages for a civil rights violation for each and very one of them. That adds up to $4,000,000,000. The basis for her suit says that Miley “knew, or should have known that her image would be publicly disseminated via the media, which Cyrus knew focused on her private life, specifically TMZ.”

OK. So. My first question is this - have ANY of us as kids, or as adults watching our kids - ever thought twice about the funny face making kids do? While in a group of our friends and family, when someone says “Ok! now make FUNNY PICTURE!” how many of us do the same thing? Right. So it’s a normal thing - hat includes the squinty eyes.

And a few more questions - is the guy on the far left getting sued too? Why not? He’s doing the exact same thing! What about the guy doing the bunny ears - is the Rabbit League suing him? How about the two on the right that CLEARLY look stoned… or constipated. Are they being run through the ringer by the National Hemp League, or Exlax Committee? And most importantly, is the guy sitting next to her, who everyone as decided that Miley was making fun of, what does HE think?

Do you think I’m being ridiculous? I don’t think so. The fact is, someone decided to get offended - on behalf of someone else, who hasn’t said that they were bothered at ALL - which means the main, and possible sole, reason behind it was because Miley Cyrus is rich and famous. Role model, smole model. It’s a bid to make money off of someone else, and it makes me feel like… well. like this.

So, who wants to step up and sue me? Gotta warn ya though - you can’t squeeze blood from a rock, and I ain’t got the resources Miley does!

For those of you who don’t follow the music and artists that your teenagers follow,27-year-old rapper T.I.(Clifford Harris, Jr.) is currently in jail in Atlanta. He faces federal weapons-related charges, including possessing three unregistered machine guns, two silencers, and possession of firearms by a convicted felon.

T.I. is a big name in rap. His best-selling albums include King, Urban Legend, and Trap Muzik, as well as the movie soundtrack Hustle and Flow. His movie appearances include ATL and the current American Gangster with Denzel Washington. He hangs out with other rappers like Diddy, Young Jeezy, and Jay-Z. He’s a big influence in the lives of some of your teens out there.

T.I. was arrested on Saturday night, just hours before he was to appear on BET’s Hip-Hop awards in Atlanta. His arrest came as part of a federal sting operation in which his bodyguard was arrested attempting to purchase firearms from an undercover Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) agent. The bodyguard informed the ATF that he was purchasing the weapons for T.I., with money provided to him by the rapper.

The bodyguard also informed the ATF that T.I. had fronted him thousands of dollars to buy guns on four different occasions since July of this year. In cooperation with the ATF, the bodyguard wore a wire while meeting with T.I. to hand over three machine guns and two silencers. When he was told about one of the silencers, T.I. reportedly said “no flash, no bang” and asked for the “change leftover” from the $12,000 he had given the bodyguard for the weapons. At that point, he was taken into custody.

T.I. was convicted of drug distribution in June, 1998 in Georgia. He also has additional arrests, and a probation violation for unlawfully possessing firearms. This prevents him from legally buying guns himself. He will remain in jail at least until Friday, when hearings will be held to determine whether he is eligible for bail, and whether there was probable cause to arrest him.

Sounds like yet another wonderful role model for our kids. If you have teens who are into rap, talk about this situation with them, and follow the news with them. Seeing their idols forced to answer to, and take responsibility for, their actions, just might make them think a little harder before getting into trouble.

For more news on rappers see:
Diddy
Young Jeezy

T.I., Clifford Harris, Diddy, Young Jeezy, American Gangster, ATL, rap music, rappers, teens, teenagers, parenting, parenting teens, parenting teenagers

The past week saw two more incidents involving school shootings or potential shootings by teenagers. On Wednesday in Cleveland, Ohio, 14-year-old Asa Coon shot two students and two teachers, before killing himself. Police are currently reviewing surveillance videos, trying to find out how the teenagers was able to enter SuccessTech Academy alternative school, while armed with two revolvers.

The teen also, apparently, had made threats the previous week, which went unheeded, along with other warning signs from the troubled boy. Asa Coon had been suspended the Monday before the shooting for a fight, but fellow students said that school personnel had not done anything about threats he had made the previous week to blow up the school and stab students. Rasheem Smith, 15, a classmate, said, “I told my friends in the class that he had a gun and stuff. We talked to the principal. She would try to get us all in the office, but it would always be too busy for it to happen.”

Asa’s older brother, Stephen Coon, 19, was arrested the day after the shooting for theft and parole violations. And an arrest warrant was issued for his mother, Lori Looney, for obstruction of justice, after she lied to police about the whereabouts of Stephen.

The second incident occurred in Philadelphia. There, police were able to prevent a planned attack at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School by another 14-year-old boy. The teenager had amassed an arsenal of including knives, swords, about 80 pellet guns-and a rifle bought for him by his mother. The mother, Michele Cossey, has been arrested and charged with providing a firearm to a minor, and contributing to the corruption of a minor.

Her teen son was arrested late Wednesday and told police he had been planning a “Columbine-type attack” on the high school. The boy’s parents had taken him out of middle school and homeschooled him for the past 18 months, because of bullying.

These are yet two more tragic and shameful incidents which plainly illustrate the ways in which we are failing our children. Failure to communicate with our teens, and failure to take action when signs of trouble or violence are seen has tragic consequences. Please stay in touch with what’s going on with your teenagers! If you see ANY signs of problems, take them seriously, and get help for your child. It can save grief and lives-including those of your teenager and yourself.

teenagers, teens, school shootings, school violence, Asa Coon, Philadelphia school shooting, Cleveland school shooting, parenting, parenting teens, parenting teenagers, troubled teens

Our ungenerous-to-a-fault president has, once again, told us where his priorities stand-he will authorize more spending for the war, but not for our children’s health. President Bush has-as promised-vetoed a bill which would have expanded the coverage of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program(SCHIP).

SCHIP is a joint state-federal program which subsidizes health coverage 6.6 million people, mostly children, whose families earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough to afford their own private insurance coverage. Democrats (and many Republicans) had passed the bill, which would add $35 billion over five years. This would have allowed four million additional children to be covered by the program. The expansion would have been funded by raising the federal tax on cigarettes to $1 per pack.

The president’s reasons for vetoing the bill were that it was too costly, took the program too far from its original intent of helping the poor, and would entice people to switch to government insurance coverage from private insurers. He argued that the plan would be a move toward socialized medicine, by expanding the program to higher-income families.

House Democratic leaders plan to try to override the veto. The Senate approved the bill with enough votes to override the veto, but the House will need some 15 more votes to get the required 2/3 majority they need to override Bush’s veto.

We should all hope and pray that the required number of votes will be attained. This is an extremely important program for our children and teens. Contact your Senators and Representatives to let them know that you support this bill. Let them know that we are tired of a president who favors war spending over the health of our children.

For more on this issue, go to:
Media Critiques

teens, teenagers, children’s health, children’s health insurance, President Bush, State Children’s Health Insurance Program, SCHIP, parenting, parenting teens, parenting teenagers

Have you been following the controversy over nude pictures of 18-year-old “High School Musical” star Vanessa Hudgens? Seems nude photos of her have been leaked on the internet. Miss Hudgens has apologized for the photos, saying the following:

I want to apologize to my fans, whose support and trust means the world to me. I am embarrassed over this situation, and regret having ever taken these photos. I am thankful for the support of my family and friends.

What’s been interesting to read are some of the comments made about Miss Hudgens and the photos. Over at iVillage, the comments have run gamut from “She’s 18 years old, and these photos were done in private, so get over it!” to “Her career with Disney is over.” One of my favorite comments gave the opinion that “the world is not such an innocent place any more.”

What would your feelings as a parent be if a friend of your teen had nude photos on the internet? What if your own teen did? Personally, if my almost-17-year-old daughter has to apologize for nude pictures of her appearing on the web when she’s 18, it better be one “heck” of an apology!

It’s true that the world is not such an innocent place any more. I don’t necessarily think that’s a good thing. And I firmly believe that, whether or not they are considered legal adults, not all 18-year-olds are capable of making good decisions. These are the same 18-year-olds that are calling us from college because they need money, or they need mom to do their laundry next week! They’re having trouble with their coursework, and they need tutoring. We worry whether or not they’re living on pizza and cheeseburgers and never eating a green vegetable!

Sure, some of them are more mature than others. And if you think your daughter is capable of handling the kind of attention that comes with published nude photos of herself, and you’re okay with that-that’s up to you. Personally, I’m going to be here mourning that “more innocent” world we have lost-just for a little while!

teens, teenagers, Vanessa Hudgens, High School Musical, teen behavior, parenting, parenting teens, parenting teenagers

Opening this fall in Atlanta, Georgia, is a unique new middle school-The Ron Clark Academy. Undoubtedly, many of you know of Ron Clark from the Emmy-nominated TV movie, in which Matthew Perry played Clark. Ron Clark became known for his wacky personality and unique brand of teaching. His ability to take students others had given up on and turn them into motivated and accomplished students is excellent. Now, Clark is putting his personality and teaching abilities into a middle school which will be like no other.

Using proceeds from his New York Times best-selling book The Essential 55: An Award-Winning Educator’s Rules for Discovering the Successful Student in Every Child, along with corporate sponsorship and donations, Ron Clark and Atlanta teacher Kim Bearden founded the Ron Clark Academy, a private middle school serving 5th-8th graders in a low-income neighborhood in Atlanta. Tuition is based on ability to pay, and ranges from $30 a month to $14,000 a year.

The curriculum is based on the academic requirements according to the state of Georgia’s course of study, but will use many interesting and dynamic methods to teach this curriculum, and will also offer students the opportunity to learn and be involved in photography, dance, music production, the art of design, dramatic performance, and business leadership. The students will travel to six continents before they reach high school.

The school has a two-story, indoor slide in the atrium. It’s features include, mounted flat-screen TV’s, graffiti art on the walls, and a secret passageway leading to Clark’s classroom. But one of the best features about this academy will be that it will offer other teachers worldwide the opportunity to learn the unique teaching techniques which Ron Clark and the other teachers will use in the classroom. Successful techniques, which have been proven to work with even some of the most difficult students.

Learn more about this unique school by visiting the above website. Perhaps, one day, all of our ‘tweens and teens will be lucky enough to attend schools which offer so many opportunities, and so much learning!

teens, teenagers, ‘tweens, Ron Clark, Ron Clark Academy, private schools, middle school, teachers, parenting teens, parenting teenagers

Suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick has apologized to everyone affected by his actions in running an illegal dogfighting ring-especially kids who idolize him. Here’s an excerpt from a Forbes article, quoting Vick’s statements following his guilty plea in federal court Monday:

Michael Vick stood behind a podium, all alone. His amazing speed and quickness was of no use in this predicament. He couldn’t scramble away from trouble with one of those nifty moves. All he could do was apologize. And ask for forgiveness. And start “bettering Michael Vick the person, not the football player.”

Looking somber and speaking without notes, Vick said Monday he was taking full responsibility for his actions after pleading guilty to a federal dogfighting charge in Richmond, Va.

He could go to prison for one to five years.

“I offer my deepest apologies to everybody out there in the world who was affected by this whole situation, and if I’m more disappointed with myself than anything it’s because of all the young people, young kids that I let down, who look at Michael Vick as a role model,” he said.

Vick canceled a Tuesday morning radio appearance on “The Tom Joyner Morning Show”. Host Tom Joyner said Vick’s advisors suggested that the football player shouldn’t talk at this time because someone “might take any part of our interview out of context.”

Vick called dogfighting “a terrible thing,” said he initially lied to the NFL and his team about it because he was ashamed, and apologized specifically to all those he deceived about a gruesome dogfighting ring: commissioner Roger Goodell, Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank, coach Bobby Petrino and his teammates.

“I need to grow up,” Vick conceded

Michael Vick does, indeed, need to grow up. The sad thing is that, at age 27, he should already be grown up enough to know better than this. The fact that he isn’t is a sad commentary on the state of those who do their growing up (at least physically) in the public eye.

Vick, just like Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, and lots of other celebrities-whether they be in sports, acting, whatever-seem to believe that, somehow, the rules don’t apply to them. They are under some impression that, because they are young, talented, and rich, they can pretty much go out and do anything they want and not pay the consequences. And they are finding themselves in legal and career troubles because of it.

Talk with your children and teens about they Michael Vick situation. Point out to them that their actions have consequences, and that they must take responsibility for themselves. They will grow up to be better adults because of it.

Michael Vick, Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, Atlanta Falcons, Michael Vick plea, teens, teenagers, parenting teens, parenting teenagers

As a social worker who once worked with juvenile populations, the term “troubled teen” troubles me! Troubled seems to be such a catch-all word. Teenagers can be troubled in so many different areas, making this a blanket term, which gives no vital information into what kinds of problems a teenager may be facing.

Having said that, I feel the teen in this brief article from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution really is troubled.

Henry County police said a Luella High School student who reported being stabbed this morning actually cut himself and faces possible charges.

Capt. Jason Bolton said the 16-year-old male is cooperating with detectives. Bolton said the teenager, who was not identified because of his age, could be charged with making a false report of a crime.

Police said the teenager arrived late to his first class of the day and told his teacher he’d been stabbed as he entered a portable classroom. The student was airlifted to Grady Memorial Hospital, where doctors determined the cuts were superficial and non life-threatening, police said.

The knife believed used in the incident was found on school grounds, Bolton said, but he declined to further identify it.

A teen must really need attention badly to do something like this. Now, I am not blaming his parents. Teens are not known for always readily talking about their problems to anyone, let alone their parents! But I have to wonder if no one-parents, teachers, friends-noticed that this teen was really upset in some way. Had there been difficult changes in his life? Was he teased and made fun of in school? Was he a loner who didn’t socialize with his peers or anyone else?

At least in this case, he did not turn his feelings onto someone else and stab fellow students or teachers. But I feel a very deep sorrow for this young man, and for his parents. He needs help, and I hope this is a wake-up call for his parents, teachers, and others around him to see that he gets it. I can’t help wondering how many other teens out there are in similar situations.

teens, teenagers, parenting teens, parenting teenagers, troubled teens, troubled teenagers, school violence

Professional athletes have long been role models for our children and teenagers. They have money, fame, and talent. They have made a name for themselves in a world where standing out from the crowd is difficult. They are also human and they make mistakes. Many an athlete has made wrong decisions and committed wrongdoings.

Then, along comes Michael Vick. You cannot call the decisions and actions for which he has been indicted mistakes. You cannot call them simple wrongdoings. They are-plainly and simply-cruelty.

News outlets, including the NFL’s official website are currently covering the decisions faced by the league and the Atlanta Falcon’s as to what to do about Vick’s playing status. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has ordered Vick to stay away from the Falcons’ training camp (which begins on Thursday), until a review of his indictment is completed. There has been no timetable placed on the length of the league’s investigation.

Meanwhile, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals(PETA) and others are already protesting outside the location of the training camp. They are calling for Michael Vick’s suspension from the Falcons.

Personally, I think suspension is too good for him. Now, I realize that an indictment is a long way from conviction, and that it is up to a judge and jury to determine Michael Vick’s ultimate legal punishment. However, I don’t believe for one moment that Michael Vick is totally innocent of all charges.

I am disgusted by the thought of fighting animals for profit in the first place, but after reading about the things that went on inside Vick’s dogfighting operation, I was sickened and outraged. Not only fighting dogs and betting on them, but executing the losing dogs? And in such horrific ways-drowning, hanging, electrocution, bludgeoning. And this is a man that our children have looked up to?!

What the ultimate outcome of the charges will be, no one can say. I, for one, believe that in a case as sickening as this, the punishment should fit the crime. If Vick is found guilty of the charges, let him play for the Falcons. And the first time the team loses a game-treat him the way he would have treated one of his losing dogs.

Michael Vick, Atlanta Falcons, NFL, National Football League, Roger Goodell, PETA

I’m very happy to announce that Parenting Teens now has parenting forums! I’ve been working on these forums for a while now(amongst other writing chores), and they are now ready for the general public!

Although they are administered by me through the Parenting Teens blog, they are not just for parents of teens. There are categories available for parents who have children of every age-baby through college age. There are also Just For Moms and Just For Dads categories, as well as areas for different types of families and for school issues.

These forums are something I have long wanted to do, and I am very excited about them! You can access the forums at any time by using the link in the “About” box just to the right of this blog, or by going to http://www.parentingteensblog.com/forums/ . So, please, drop by the forums, register, and return often to chat with other parents about parent and child issues. See you there!

parent forums, parenting forums, parents, parenting, moms, dads, children, kids

The New York Times, as well as most other news outlets is reporting on yesterdays Supreme Court vote on the use of race in helping to integrate schools. The following is an excerpt from the New York Times article:

With competing blocs of justices claiming the mantle of Brown v. Board of Education, a bitterly divided Supreme Court declared Thursday that public school systems cannot seek to achieve or maintain integration through measures that take explicit account of a student’s race.

Voting 5 to 4, the court, in an opinion by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., invalidated programs in Seattle and metropolitan Louisville, Ky., that sought to maintain school-by-school diversity by limiting transfers on the basis of race or using race as a “tiebreaker�? for admission to particular schools.

I’m divided on this issue. I can see both sides of the coin. I feel that the use of race in making these decisions is wrong. Yet, as a parent, I believe that attending schools with diverse racial populations better prepares children for life in the real world.

I’d like to hear from readers on this one. How do you feel about the Supreme Court decision? How do you feel that the use of race in making school attendance decisions affects your teens and younger children?

race, Supreme Court, schools, education, racial issues, Brown v. Board of Education, New York Times

It’s almost that time. Time for the school year to end. Another school year, another year of your teen’s life at home gone by. Many teens will be graduating high school, and moving on to college or work-maybe both.

How much quality time have you spent with your teen lately? Have you spent any time doing something fun with your teenager? This is a subject I like to which I like to return periodically, because it can be so easy to let that time slip away. To take it for granted.

One of my daughter’s best friends is graduating high school this year, and will be leaving for college the first of September. She’ll be working over the summer, but her mom (who happens to be my best friend!) is making a few plans for them to do things together-things that will fit into everyone’s work schedule and be fun for them, too. It isn’t easy.

But, hey, doing things together doesn’t have to mean a lot of time at once, or even a lot of expense. Go to a nice restaurant and have a lunch special a few times while you talk! Go to a movie you’ll both enjoy-a matinee; they’re cheaper! Go visit some relatives you haven’t seen in a while.

Time with your teenager doesn’t have to be forced, or something that you both dread. It can be a fun and relaxing experience for both of you, if you find something you both can enjoy doing. And time is very precious.

Virginia Tech will be having it’s graduation soon, following the mass shootings of April 16. It’s students, faculty, and families are preparing for graduation, while still mourning the loss fellow classmates and teachers. It is a reminder to all of us that time spent with loved ones can be cut short. Use it wisely.

tags]teens, teenagers, graduation, school, time with teens, Virginia Tech, Virginia Tech graduation[/tags]

The King of horror himself (Stephen, that is) has spoken about the writings of Cho Seung-Hui, the 23-year-old student responsible for the mass shooting at Virginia Tech. Stephen King’s take on Cho’s writings is posted at Entertainment Weekly’s website, where he serves as a contributing editor on pop culture.

He is frank about the fact that, in this day and age, his own college writings would have raised flags. King also speaks about a one-time student of his who raised red flags for him . He is quick to point out, though, that, in his own case, he had none of the other signs which would have pointed to him as a possibly violent personality-he interacted with his peers, never stalked girls, etc.

The following quote from King seems to pretty well sum up his opinion on Cho’s writings and his violent state:

For most creative people, the imagination serves as an excretory channel for violence: We visualize what we will never actually do (James Patterson, for instance, a nice man who has all too often worked the street that my old friend George used to work). Cho doesn’t strike me as in the least creative, however. Dude was crazy. Dude was, in the memorable phrasing of Nikki Giovanni, ”just mean.” Essentially there’s no story here, except for a paranoid a–hole who went DEFCON-1. He may have been inspired by Columbine, but only because he was too dim to think up such a scenario on his own.

On the whole, I don’t think you can pick these guys out based on their work, unless you look for violence unenlivened by any real talent.

I’ll be the first to admit that I am not unbiased where Stephen King is concerned. I discovered King in the ’70’s during my own teen years and have been a huge fan since then. I write horror stories myself, and have come up with some pretty gruesome storylines in my time. However, as someone who has also served as a social worker in the mental health field, I have to wholeheartedly agree with him here. The writings, on their own, do not mean that a person is violent. If so, many of today’s top novelists and writers would be in mental institutions!

So, if you have, or know of, a teen who reads and/or writes horror, don’t automatically assume that he/she has a mental problem! Look for other signs, such as isolation, anti-social behavior, etc. We all worry about our kids, but let’s not let that take over our lives.

[tags]Virginia Tech, Virginia tech shootings, Stephen King, Entertainment Weekly, Cho Seung-Hui, writing, parenting teens, parenting teenagers, teen writing, teenage writing[/tags[

Many of us are still in shock following the shootings at Virginia Tech two days ago. We see new pictures and hear new information, much of which is more frightening than before. And we feel grief for the victims and their families, even though we may not have known them. Unless we have lost a child ourselves, most of us can only imagine how these families must be feeling. And we fear for our own children now more than ever.

The most difficult part of this, for many of us, will be trying to explain this to our children. How do we explain something that we, ourselves, do not understand? How do we comfort and reassure children who may be frightened that something like this will happen in their own schools? There are no easy answers.
Explaining to teenagers may sometimes be more difficult than explanations to a younger child.

When discussing the shootings with your teen, it is best to be totally open and honest. After all, for most teens, many of the victims were only a few years older than they. If teens are worried about the possibility of such violence in their own school, acknowledge that, in today’s world, that is a possibility. Don’t tell them “It’ll never happen here.” Attempting to give them a false sense of security is something most teens will see through. As strong as the temptation may be, don’t do it.

Having acknowledged that it could happen, talk to them about the precautions that are taken to make sure that it doesn’t. If the school has metal detectors, security guards, etc., point these out to them. These precautions are not foolproof (as we saw), but in many situations they do help. Point out to your teen that, though these incidents are horrible and terrifying, they really do not happen often. That’s not saying “never”, just “rarely”.

Talk with your teenager about what they can do to protect themselves if such an event were to occur. Personally, I’ve told my daughter that, if she ever sees anyone with a gun or any other weapon at school, she is to report it immediately. I’ve also told her that, if she hears gunfire, she should immediately drop to the floor and stay there, not moving or even raising her head. In addition, one of the things that she and I have discussed is that she should notify someone if she feels any student or friend she knows is writing or talking about anything that threatens or condones violence. Teens will feel better knowing that, if a situation does come up, they are not helpless. There is something they can do to protect themselves.

Talk to your teens about doing something proactive. Virginia Tech has set up a memorial website to allow people to post tributes, memorials and condolences to family and friends of the victims. If your teen would like to post something there, share the site with them. Talk to them about putting together some sort of tribute at their own school-a display, a memorial, sending cards or letters to families, etc. Doing something proactive makes people feel better. If they feel there is something they can do-no matter how small-they will feel less helpless and frightened.

If your teen is so frightened or worried that they are refusing to go to school, or if they are so distracted by the recent happenings that they are unable to do homework, behave normally with friends, etc., you may need to contact their school counselor or another professional. School counselors will be happy to provide services individually or in groups for students who are having trouble dealing with this situation.

Give your teens all the love and reassurance that you can in these difficult times. They need your love and support more than ever.

Virginia Tech, Virginia Tech shooting, school violence, school safety, Virginia Tech memorial, parenting teens, parenting teenagers

This morning, our hearts go out to parents and other loved ones of those killed in yesterday’s Virginia Tech shootings. Once again, a school campus housing our children, many of them teenagers ha s been the scene of seemingly senseless violence. The deadliest shooting spree in U.S. history has occurred at a place where most parents feel their kids are relatively secure.

Information is still sparse, although one of the deceased students has been identified as Ryan Clark, of Augusta, Georgia. The gunman has been identified as Cho Seung-Hui, who was a senior in the English department. He lived on campus in another residence hall.

Already, questions are being posed by many people about why classes were not cancelled and security tightened after the shooting of the first two students, which occurred approximately two hours before the rest of the victims perished. The following is a quote from a student:

At this point, as we wait for more information, we can only offer our support, comfort and prayers to those who lost family members in this tragedy. Give your kids extra hugs and kisses today and, no matter what problems your feel they are causing, give thanks for them.

Virginia Tech, Virginia Tech shooting, college, Billy Bason, Ryan Clark, Cho Seung-Hui, parenting teens, parenting teenagers