Tag Archives: abuse

Signs of Teen Dating Violence

This past week I watched a disturbing Dr. Phil show, “Teens Obsessed with Love.” It went beyond the whole idea of a teen believing they are in love to the point where violence was going on. It used to be a domestic partner phenomenon but now teen dating violence has become a new and growing problem. What could ever cause a teen to become violent with the one they supposedly “love?” What could cause a teen to allow someone else to victimize them? I can’t say that I completely understand it but it opens up the opportunity to have some … Continue reading →

Alhohol Abuse in Single-Parent Teens

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Studies have shown that children who are raised in single parent households are at a higher risk of developing alcohol-related problems. This could possibly be due to low supervision, inconsistent discipline, poor communication, or conflicts within the family. Teens with the highest risk of developing alcoholism are girls, those who begin drinking prior to age 14, and those with a parent who suffers from alcohol-related problems. Alcohol contributes to a number of problems, including an inability to pay attention, the risk for developing alcoholism, car-related deaths, higher risk for suicide, greater possibility of engaging in unprotected sex or sex with … Continue reading →

Look At the Family

Years ago I remember someone saying if a guy is considering marriage he needs to look at the girl’s Mom, because that’s what he could be looking at years down the track. Now the problem with that is that it is very stereotypical and as Angela pointed out in a comment on another blog, people don’t always follow the stereotypes. The key here is always because often they do. So it’s worth while taking a good long look at the family your intended comes from. It might alert you to problems. For example, years ago I knew a guy whose … Continue reading →

The Way You Treat Your Spouse

The way you treat your spouse can affect more than your spouse. It could affect the next generation and even future generations. One marriage quote I like and can really see the sense of is ‘Don’t worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you,’ Robert Fulghum. And this one : ‘The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother,’ Theodore Hesburgh You and you spouse can influence each other’s character a little as you live together. It is even truer that as parents we can have a … Continue reading →

Mormons and Divorce – Part Two: What are Grounds for Divorce?

As I stated in my previous blog in our “Mormons and Divorce” series, the goal is to do whatever it takes to keep our marriages strong and healthy so we can be together eternally. However, this is not always possible. While every situation is different and I can’t speak for your leaders or pretend to know more about your circumstances than I do, here are some examples of times when your Church leaders might be inclined to support your decision to divorce. Adultery. The Church has a firm stance on adultery and members who commit this sin will most generally … Continue reading →

What Are You Teaching Your Children About Anger?

Recently we’ve been looking at anger and how to deal with it. What are you teaching your child about anger? Look at Proverbs 15:1 and we find that ‘a gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.’ We need to not only watch our words but also the manner in which we deliver them, so we do not incite anger in others. This is true in parenting, as it is in a marriage relationship and in our churches. Years ago I went with my daughter’s school to Canberra and to Parliament House. As we sat in … Continue reading →

What She Left for Me – Tracie Peterson

This Christian fiction novel is a blazing testament to the importance of forgiveness. However, it’s not an easy read and I offer that upfront. The author herself admits this – she includes a note at the beginning, stating that the book deals with issues of infidelity and abuse, and that she would recommend mothers read it before handing it over to their daughters. I agree with her caution, but that doesn’t keep me from recommending the book. Bad things happen to good people – and we need to know to Whom we can turn for deliverance from it. Eleanor Templeton … Continue reading →

When the Road Ends – Jean Thesman

In “When the Road Ends” by Jean Thesman, Mary Jack is a twelve-year-old who has spent her entire life in the foster care system. Passed around from home to home, she’s never had any constancy in her life until now, having been placed with Father Matt and his wife. Father Matt is a well-meaning man of the cloth – his heart’s in the right place, but he doesn’t often have the courage to follow through. His wife is an unkind, unfeeling woman who complains endlessly about all she has to endure, and Mark Jack finds herself taking up a lot … Continue reading →

In the News: Is Warren Jeff’s Holding other Men’s Wives Hostage?

Wendell Musser was once a good and faithful servant to the “prophet” Warren Jeffs. Unfortunately, while running from safe house to safe house, playing caretaker for eight or nine of Jeffs’ wives, Musser got pulled over and the police questioned him extensively about Jeffs’ whereabouts. He didn’t tell them anything, but it was enough to anger Jeffs. Musser waited a few days to return to the current safe house, to ensure that he was not followed there, but upon his return he found that everyone had moved out. All of the wives were gone –including his own- and his son. … Continue reading →

Reasons I am Glad We Homeschool: A Child’s Most Basic Needs

Children and humans in general have a few very basic needs that at minimum should not be restricted. They are the need to breathe, the need to eat, the need to eliminate. Without these needs, a child will be unable to learn, focus, and even survive. This past week there were two incidents in the news where the basic need to eliminate was denied to two middle school boys. The first incident involves an honor student child in California who claims the teacher told him to urinate in a bottle instead of allowing him to go to the rest room. … Continue reading →