I have this ornament in my house that
reads 'Friends touch our lives in very beautiful ways….....can't remember what
prompted me to buy it but I’m almost sure some sweet friendship memories
inspired the purchase. Friendship is life and life is about friendship and not
very many people will deny that.
In a teens gathering recently we had
to deal with the issue of friendship and as always it was an interactive
session which revealed some truth about how young people choose or make friends.
Everyone loves to hang out with those they have shared interest and it is almost
common knowledge that tweens love this as well and they totally want to protect
the bonds they have found. What might be worrisome though are the criteria by
which these friends chosen and clique formed.
I have found out that tweens generally get
easily influenced by common interest found in someone and sometimes it is
something they lack but admire in another person which explains why they obsess
about celebrities. The look of someone, the kind of clothes, the latest PSP, ability
to stand up for themselves or even some rebellious act in school can draw a tweens attention and influence who they
roll with.
With the amount of influence friends can have
on your teenager, it is important to know where that recent development in their
attitude are from whether positive or negative. You want to be sure that your wards are
influenced for the right reasons no matter how positive the influence may appear.
An influence gone bad needs careful management
so your tween does not consider you insensitive and not caring …….. afterall
even adults run into bad relationships once in a while. Your honest assessment
of the situation will re-emphasize your interest in your tweens emotional growth
and not a fair weather parent or guardian.
Cheers
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