Help That Rewards Others......

I had the opportunity to get to know a lady that had been a student at a program here in Southern Utah. She was such an amazing woman. She grew up in Detroit, and was starting to hang out with the wrong crowd. She was doing drugs, smoking, and never where her parents thought that she was. Her parents became very concerned for her and, out of the love that they had for her, began to seek help.
That help came in the form of a youth home here in Southern Utah. Cross Creek was the name of the home and her parents told her they were gonna take her to a school. Little did she know, she was in for a life changing experience. She told me that at first it was pure hell, but she learned to love it and made a lot of friends.
She developed a trusting relationship with her therapist and through that developed a strong and meaningful relationship with her parents. Both her and her parents were going through great changes in their lives. She was attending some self-help seminars for youth at the school, while her parents were attending the same seminars triggered more for adults/ parents. Through these seminars and therapy, they created a bond and a deeper love and appreciation for each other. I choke up when i see the love they have for each other and it is so evident that it is true heart felt love.
My friend told me that if she continued down the same path that she was on, without her parent's intervention, there is no doubt in her mind that she would be dead right now. That to me is such a sad thought.
How many people on this earth, good kids that just were in the wrong place at the wrong time, could have been saved by just one small intervention? All they may have needed was one person that really did care for them to seek a little help. I think that so many times we are so wrapped up in our own pride, that we are doing the best that we can, that our loved ones suffer. This is a sobering thought to me. If our children really are the future, how does that future look? I am saddened when I see children that don't care and have no real worry to take accountability for their actions. I am impressed with the way the youth homes, at least the one I work at , makes these youth take accountability and responsability for their actions. There are a series of cosequences and rewards that they deal with on a daily basis. These youth, future leaders, learn confidence and leadership skills while attending basic school studies.
Back to my friend. She graduated the program that she was attending. When she returned home, she didn't want to return to her ways that she was used to before she went to Cross Creek, so she returned to Cross Creek to work as a staff and help other girls that may have the same issues she dealt with. What a fascinating lady this woman is. She is married now and has two beautiful children. She is accountable and responsible. And to think, this wonderful person could be dead if someone didn't care enough about her to seek help...........

Are you tired of fighting with your teenager???

I have been working with troubled teenagers for some time now, and let me tell you, what a rewarding lifestyle this is. I have seen teenagers come into the youth school that i work at, completely clueless to what reality there is in life, and leave a completely changed and better person in society. This is one of the most rewarding careers , and to think, they pay me to be with young and inquiring minds.
I watched children come into the facility hating their parents and leave with an utmost love and respect for them. There is a process that these children go through, therapy and seminars, that teaches them to take accountability for their actions. It is amazing the growth that I see in these kids as they learn that there is more to life than drugs, sex, and crime. To watch someone just finally "get it" is such a fun and rewarding experience. To know that my influence on them may have somehow inspired them for the better is something do be proud of.
In Southern Utah, where I live, there are many schools and homes for troubled teenagers. They are all specialized in different issues dealing with a troubled teen. When there is an issue that one school is not equipped to deal with, the other schools are. For instance, your child might have a drug problem, there are therapists that specialize in treating drug addictions. Your child might have a problem sexually, therapists are available for this also. Maybe your child just has really low self esteem that causes them to be a follower are cave to peer-pressure, there are therapists and seminars that teach them to respect themselves and stand up for themselves.
Some of the schools are group oriented and have a classroom setting for school, while other schools may take the children into the wilderness and teach them to be self sufficient. They all deal with therapy, one way or another, while meeting the child and the parents needs to resolve the differences that the parent/ child do not see eye to eye on. I am filled with excitement that my back yard is a learning ground for so many teens and parents to learn how to love each other as a family should. I have been lucky that my family gets along so well, but i have seen families that can not stand to be around each other. That breaks my heart, because if you don't have family, you have nothing. Money doesn't matter, what job you do doesn't matter, who your friends are doesn't matter, the misery of every day life really becomes misery....
If you are having trouble with your teen, i would strongly suggest you seek help before it deteriorates to the point of being alone. This is far too sad of an option, especially in these trying times where you need your family now more than ever before. Your jobs and friends could turn on you at any time, but your family should be the one constant that you can always count on..

I want to keep this blog up to raise the awareness of the help that you can find for someone that may have troubles with their teenager. If i save only one family with my information, i will be pleased and feel that i have accomplished a mountain of a milestone.