Hello my friends, the holidays are upon us once again, we are busy, stressed, happy, sad. This time of year can bring many different things for us all. I hope you enjoy this time, be thankfull for life and all that it brings us. We will publish only 1 issue this month, starting in January we will be on a bi-weekly schedule.

The two topics for this issue are:

• Troubled Teenagers
• 10 Ways To Take Care of Yourself That Do Not Cost Money? Guest Writer - Kim Knight
  

Some Warning Signs of Teenage Crises for Parents to Take Note of:

Change in Academic Grades – Most teenagers who are experiencing serious problems – mental, psychological, or emotional – would usually end up letting their grades slip although this may be unintentionally or otherwise.

Change in Friends – If you’re not aware of who your teenager is friends with then it’s time you learn because friends have a significant role in every teenager’s life. Birds of the same feather flock together, and this continues to hold water in today’s world. If you notice that your teenager is hanging out with a different set of friends, do your best to learn why. If the reason provided seems to be too vague or insufficient then yes, this is yet another warning sign.

Change in Attitude – The most important warning sign to take note of is a change in attitude. Usually, behavioral changes take a gradual pattern. A usually even-tempered teenager may start, for instance, by raising his voice and then proceed to throwing tantrums or even cussing.

Fighting Peer Pressure:

Tip #1 Teaching about Equality and Uniqueness of Human Beings
It’s essential for you to teach your teenager the basic truths about mankind. Firstly, each and every person is unique and this uniqueness must be respected and treasured.
These are simple truths, but they’re especially difficult to teach your teenager because it has a philosophical context to it. Nevertheless, you need to make your teenager understand this tip because not only will it prevent him from succumbing to peer pressure but it can also prevent him from exercising peer pressure as well.

Tip #2 Common Issues and Causes for Peer Pressure
You can help your teenager not only fight peer pressure but also help him avoid having to do so in the first place.

Tip #3 Help Your Teenager Love Himself
Confidence only develops from loving one’s self. And if a person has enough confidence and self-esteem, these will go a long way in protecting him from the harms of peer pressure.

Tip #4 Help Your Teenager Know Himself
It’s possible for a well-rounded and confident teenager to still end up becoming a victim of peer pressure simply because he lacks identity and purpose. As a parent, it’s your role to help him know who he really is, where he stands in the world, and who he wants to be in the future.

Is your child skipping classes?

Truancy, or absenteeism from school, is something that mostly occurs during a child’s teenage years. This is to be expected, as it’s also during this stage that school becomes less fun and more serious while teenagers discover at the same time more pleasures to be had outside school.

Your child faces a higher risk of becoming a truant if he or she displays any of the following symptoms:

Attention Problems – Attention problems such as an inability to stay focused for a long period of time is a good indicator of teenage truancy. The inability to stick till the end and completing goals can also be considered a symptom of teenage truancy.

Retention in Grade – If a child has been required to stay behind his level more than once, he may ultimately and completely lose interest in school and become a truant; of course, multiple retention caused by innate mental deficiencies are an exception to the rule.

Substandard Academic Performance – If your child has been getting low grades year after year, this may be an indicator for possible teenage truancy.

Tips on How to Deal with Truancy

Consider the role that the school plays in your teenager’s life. Is the management style of the school something you feel that prevents or helps your child to become a truant? If you find out that the school isn’t being run the way you envisioned it should then it’s no big surprise that your child is no longer interested in attending classes. If this is the root of the problem, transfer your child to another school – and make sure this time that it adheres to your standards.

Know who your child’s friends are and determine if they’re a good or bad influence on your child. If they seem to be the bad sort then it’s possible that they’re the reasons for your child to show increasing signs of becoming a truant. Let your child know gently and truthfully why hanging out with such friends isn’t good for him. Advise, and not forbid. Emphasize the benefits of changing instead of focusing on the disadvantages of staying in his present course.

Communicate more with your child. Do your best to determine why he doesn't’t want to go to school. Show and prove to your child that you’re worthy of his trust.

Make him feel loved. Make your child understand that your love for him is unconditional, and that nothing he’s doing right now will change this fact. Showing him your love and support will give him the confidence to reveal whatever reasons he has for acting the way he is.

And lastly, if nothing else proves successful, do not hesitate to seek professional help. You will prove to become more inadequate if you let your pride rule your actions and prevent you from asking help when you need it most.

Is Your Teen in a Gang?

• Some Ways to Know If Your Teen is in a Gang
• Grades that Go Down and Down
• As a teenager becomes more and more involved with gangs, he usually has less and less time for school.
• Too Much Money in Their Hands
• Changing Friends
• Changing Looks,Teenagers who usually join gangs end up having an image makeover as well.
• Most, if not all, gangs have their own secret symbols and trademarks. If you happen to notice anything – may they be a set of letters or shapes – indecipherable posted in your child’s things or room then this could also be considered a sign of gang involvement.
• More aggressive attitude
• Displays of Over Anxiety and Nervousness (could be in trouble with someone or the law)

Many children are being put on drugs these days to deal with depression and aggression.These drugs must always be used with extreme caution as well as supervision. Studies made by the government of UK as well as the US’ FDA have expressed warnings which indicate that not all drugs for psychiatric use is appropriate for kids and teens.

Special kind of schools, challenges and boot camps could also be recommended treatments for teens that are troubled. Whenever possible they may just need more after school activities like sports, swimming etc. (Less Internet and Nintendo)

All in all, treatments work best if everyone is genuinely concerned to better a teen’s welfare and help create in him a positive self-image.

These are just some of the issues, problems and solutions I have researched for you and from personal experience with 4 kids. I hope the information is helpful to you.

Great Self-Improvment Article

Most people do not spend enough time on self-care. They think it is selfish and self-indulgent. This could not be further from the truth. My experiences have shown me that when I do take care of myself in the ways that I need to, it is only then that I am truly capable of being of real service to someone else. What are some practical and empowering ways of taking care of yourself?

Voice you feelings. Don't keep them inside you. Share your accomplishments or disappointments with someone you trust. Remember that when you express your feelings, it is then that you can change them.

Do not compare yourself with others. This kind of jealousy causes self-disgust. Do not think others are better than you. If there is someone you admire, use them as a model to improve yourself.

Take time to play. Play is any activity that makes you feel good. You not only deserve it, it is essential to a balanced state of well-being.

Learn to say no. When you become more comfortable with saying no to others you will find that your self-esteem improves. When you then choose to say yes to others, you will want to and you will feel great and energized by your choice.

Exercise. Go for a walk. Ride a bike. Take the stairs. You don't need to go to a fancy gym to break a sweat. There is nothing like some physical activity to help shift yourself from a mood of despair to one of hope.

Remember you are only a human being doing your best. Don't let others put you high up on a pedestal. When this happens they expect you to be perfect and they feel angry and disappointed when you let them down.

Please remember to laugh, laugh at everything, especially at yourself. Try it! It is the cheapest and most effective form of medicine for life.

Practice being an encouraging and kind person. Find 2 people today you can help out in this way. When you do this, you will not only feel amazing, but it will kick up your self-esteem a notch or two.

Take up a hobby. What is one thing you have always wanted to try out? It could be oil painting, learning a foreign language; taking flying lessons ... the list is endless. Creativity helps you unleash a sense of enthusiasm and zest for life.

Put time aside for your spiritual life. Slow down. Practice sitting quietly. When thoughts crop up, acknowledge them but do not pay attention to them. Be still. Be courageous and if a traditional religion has not been helpful for you follow your own spiritual path.

As an action plan for the week, how about choosing 3 tips from the list of 10 below? Put them into practice everyday and take note of how it affects your week.

"Live life fully while you're here. Experience everything. Take care of yourself and your friends. Have fun, be crazy, and be weird. Go out and screw up! You're going to anyway, so you might as well enjoy the process. Take the opportunity to learn from your mistakes: find the cause of your problem and eliminate it. Don't try to be perfect; just be an excellent example of being human." Anthony Robbins

Kim Knight, The Coach Yourself to Greatness Coach, has helped a number of clients target their goals. The Personal Life Coach is not only a sought-after trusted and inspirational coach. There are many successful clients whose friends and family are amazed at finding out that someone else coached them on their overall transformation. Kim is the creator of the forthcoming Online 7 week course, How to Get What you Want Now." Created for practicing coaches and individuals. For more information, visit Kim's site at www.kimknightcoaching.com and sign up for up for her FREE Coaching Tips at http://www.coachtogreatness.com

Kim is a passionate and successful weight loss and personal life coach. She works internationally covering most continents and is available within 12 - 24 hours of your email received. Kim Knight may be contacted at http://www.kimknightcoaching.com or expatk@yahoo.com