It is really hard to be a teenager these days, but it might even be just as hard for teenage parents. I don't fit into either one of those categories, but I have a lot of interactions with both groups. Here is my outsider perspective on one of the major issues facing teens and parents: Teens are way too busy! High school has changed so much in the past 5 to 10 years. Kids are taking AP classes, playing AAU sports, learning multiple languages, staying involved at church, and not to mention the endless opportunities of clubs that they can join at school. Mix in some time for friends and family, and hopefully there is enough time to relax and just enjoy being a teen.
I am a high school baseball coach and youth pastor, so I know first hand all of time that kids are pressured into committing to. Just last night I had a phone call from a parent of one of the boys on my baseball team. She asked if it was okay with me if her son left a few of our baseball games early to get to an AAU basketball practice, which is over an hour drive away. I wanted to reach through the phone and smack her for even allowing her son to play two sports at one time, let alone drive him to practice in a city that is over an hour away. I told her that it is baseball season and not basketball season. Basketball season just ended a few weeks ago for high school and already AAU practices are starting. She was worried that if he didn't go to AAU practice that he wouldn't play and then he wouldn't make the team next year. I told her that if he leaves baseball games early, he wont be able to play this season. I understand her concern about playing time, but since when does a 14 year-old freshman boy worry so much about playing time on a AAU team while in the middle of a season of another sport? It's just crazy how much things have changed for teenagers.
I came across this article in the Washington Post that discusses teenage busyness:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/14/AR2008071401396_pf.html
I think that this article is right on and as a coach and youth pastor, I am going to continue to encourage kids and parents to just take time to be a teen. To relax and enjoy this season of life, because it will be over with so soon.
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This is so true Aaron. Kids feel like they can't compete unless they do extra sports. What changed from when I was a kid growing up until now, I don't know. I suspect parents are to blame along the way. Kid's don't hang out in their neighborhoods as much, there aren't any games of kick the can or hide & seek. It is hard to watch as a parent, even harder when they feel like a failure because they don't make the team. Even Devyn doesn't know what to do with himself when he doesn't have a sports season going on. He wanted to do 2 sports this spring, I said no, his dad said yes. He has never had so many illnesses in a 3 month period! Yet if you ask him, he would do it again (of course I won't!) So, what is the answer? Parents, yes, but kids too, have to find boundaries & accept where they lay in society in the pecking order & be happy with who God has made them! (Of course, my talk is louder than my actions, but I am working on it!) Lorene Rumbaugh
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