Yesterday, I listened to this radio broadcast interview with Dr. Robert Epstein, author of Teen 2.0. He argues that teens are too isolated from adults, especially in school, and that they aren't given enough real responsibility which would help them learn how to be adults. He claims that childhood has been extended in this country to at least 18 and perhaps even 22, and he thinks this is not a good thing and is one of the reasons for poor behavior among teens. He's an advocate for home schooling and for providing opportunities for teens to work alongside adults.
I also just finished reading A Tribe Apart by Patricia Hersch, which is an ethnographic study of teens in Northern Virginia, completed during the 90s. Her message is similar to Epstein's. She points out how many of these teens are largely fending for themselves, with no parents at home after school. Teachers and administrators often don't take the teens seriously and make rules aimed at the most grievous offenders, but which have the effect of making all the teens feel like criminals. The book is an eye-opening look at the lives of teenagers.
I have a teen and so far, while things have not been smooth sailing, we haven't had any major trouble. But I worry a lot. And these two authors have made me think about ways I might change how I'm parenting my teen. Ever since I had my first child, I've worried about the teen years. My own teenage years were not pleasant, in large part because my parents were not as involved as they could have been. What Epstein and Hersch say rings true to me. We were, to some extent, headed down that same path with our son, largely because we thought it was the only path, and we felt we had few options.
I'm now home in the afternoons with both of my kids since I work from home, but that wasn't always the case. My husband and I had challenging work schedules which made it difficult for us to be home to meet our son after school. And I honestly think that it had an effect on his grades in middle school. He had no direction during those hours. There were no after-school programs available for kids his age. He did play sports, but when he didn't have sports, he was often left on his own. And like many teens, he didn't always use that time effectively.
Article comments
1 - Fran
Great topic and well done article Lauren.
I recently did an article for Tom Matlack on the GoodMenProject.org blog as a guest blogger entitled Walkabout and other Rites of Passage that in many ways talks about these very issues that are very much a part of the modern world.
Having raised three children myself and I had to work full-time during their full-time school years, I can totally identify. It's a tough nut to crack these days when it takes two incomes. You are very fortunate to be able to be home with them now. I was only able to stay home with mine until the last one started first grade and was full time. (Before that the babysitter/childcare costs were so high I would have been working for $10 a week LOL!).
2 - Steve
Hey Laura, I too found the Epstein piece compelling. One of the things that attracted us to our church was the strong youth programs, where kids develop relationships with many adults (besides their parents). Much of the reason for our youth programs is to attempt to address the problems Epstein identifies. We attract kids from churches besides our own, as well as kids with no faith background. For us, it's all about giving kids a safe place to grow.
3 - cons
Great article Laura, you are definitely right and I can relate to it. I think the key here is to have you mindset and that type of care for your children. If your work doesn't allow you to be there all the time at least make those times that you can valuable, share ideas and ways of thinking, it helps.
Happy new year to all.