| gers are normally defined in terms of their biological | | | | left for them, but to either leave home and try to |
| age and not their mental or emotional age. If so, | | | | make it on their own. This is supported by domestic |
| they would come under the definition of being a child | | | | violence statistics in single parent homes. Or in the |
| in an adult’s body. You look at a teenager, | | | | deepest of despair, and loneliness when no one |
| you see a young adult. Some teenage boys are | | | | seems to care whether they lived or died, they |
| almost six-foot in height by the time they hit their | | | | might think so too, and pursue the second option. |
| sixteenth year. Teenage girls are even harder to | | | | If you are a teenager, or younger, make sure you |
| gauge. They may have the physical attributes of a | | | | reach out to your parent and tell them how you are |
| much older woman, and worse, even talk like one, | | | | feeling and what you are thinking. Often, your |
| when they are least equipped to do so. | | | | parent(s) think you are actually doing fine and |
| So when you hear of domestic violence tearing a | | | | don’t even realize your situation. Tell them in |
| family apart, and are also authoritatively informed | | | | a serious manner when they are alone, or make time |
| that the kids are fine because they are already | | | | to be alone with them, and tell them straight up, |
| teenagers, don’t be so sure. Data on teenage | | | | things have to change, because you literally cannot |
| domestic violence contain spine-chilling tales of children | | | | handle things anymore. |
| who put an end to their young lives. | | | | It’s okay. They are the adult. Not you. If |
| Teenage is a turbulent time in ones life under the | | | | they are not emotionally capable to handle it, then |
| most normal of circumstances. You go through | | | | you will realize you are not alone after all, that you |
| emotional ups and downs as a matter of routine, not | | | | have each other. Ask your parent if you can help |
| really understanding why it is that you are up or | | | | each other and change things together. Sometimes, |
| down. Even coming from normal, boring families | | | | you’d be very, very surprised that they |
| where the most exciting event would be the | | | | would rather hold onto you than someone who |
| lawn-mover getting stuck, teenagers go through | | | | isn’t their blood relative, namely, her new |
| phases, in an attempt to figure out who they are. If | | | | boyfriend or your new stepfather. |
| the family is there behind them like a rock with a light | | | | Remember this, above all, you are both in a situation |
| house, the turbulent teen soon finds his moorings and | | | | that neither wants to be in. You both seriously need |
| drops anchor. If not, he is wrecked on the | | | | and truly love each other. It is very important you |
| treacherous rocks, after years of floundering and | | | | two find a place when you are absolutely alone and |
| being blown about in tempests. A teenager really | | | | plan your next step, be together, help one another, |
| needs his or her family. | | | | and lean on each other for the love and affection |
| Reasons for domestic violence are many, but the | | | | that you both deserve. |
| effect of domestic violence on children is just | | | | Your place in this world will not be determined by a |
| one—disastrous. Smaller children, one may dare | | | | sick, abusive person. It will be determined by your |
| to hope, may eventually overcome the trauma, and | | | | strength to get through this situation in the most |
| find healing if shifted from the scene and placed in a | | | | positive way you can find. You are bound for |
| more convivial situation. But older children are often | | | | greatness. Most of us don’t know that, and |
| unable to do so, and carry this monkey on their | | | | we walk about in life aimlessly, wondering why they |
| backs for a long time. Their fragile psyches are often | | | | are here. |
| burdened beyond endurance. The tragic fact is that | | | | Trust me when I tell you this, and I have been at |
| they are haunted by the specter of domestic | | | | my darkest hour ready to end it all, you ARE here to |
| violence even long after the parents have ceased | | | | make a difference. You are here to be VERY |
| communications, and gone their separate ways. | | | | successful. There are many, many people you have |
| Feelings of helplessness, fear, and guilt attain | | | | yet to meet that will love you like you have never |
| overwhelming proportions and tear the child apart. | | | | been loved before. |
| There is an established correlation between | | | | If I told you about my life and the adversity I've |
| substance abuse and domestic violence. This as well | | | | gotten through, you would probably never believe |
| as wild acts of rebellion and a lack of respect for | | | | me. Sometimes, I wonder why I am still here. Then I |
| authority are all cries for help, which are quite | | | | remember...because you are still here hanging in there, |
| unintelligible to society, and taken at face-value. | | | | too. |
| These woes are often compounded if the mother | | | | I, personally, pray to The Lord, Jesus Christ, for |
| decides to pursue another relationship. The child sees | | | | strength each and every day, and every night when |
| his or her priority in her life slipping to below zero. It | | | | I go to bed. That is my personal belief. So whoever |
| is true the woman needs to live her life, but | | | | your higher power may be, pray to Him (or her) and |
| sometimes she makes a wrong choice twice. The | | | | ask for the strength, courage, and wisdom to make |
| step-father/boyfriend may be a divine creature who | | | | a beautiful difference in this world through his grace |
| actually cares for the woman and her children, or he | | | | and love. |
| may be a devil-incarnate who abuses the children in | | | | Believe it. Because You are Worth So Much More |
| every way he can. | | | | Than You’ve Ever Imagined. |
| If it is the second situation, there really is no hope | | | | |