Tag Archives: Support and Help for Parents

01.01.18
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New Year’s Resolutions for the Hurting Parent

New Years Resolutions for the Hurting Parent - Anchor Of Promise

 

Every year, friends, family, and co-workers talk about their New Year’s resolutions. Some of the favorites are losing weight, go on a long awaited trip, spend less money, and even go back to school.  When we are a parent with a child in crisis however, our goals fade and we lose ourselves in the chaos that surrounds us.  

Most of the time when we set goals, they are too big or take too long and so our hope and desires for them to be fulfilled become diminished.  We also lose site of those goals when we only make a list in our heads and never get it on the calendar. That is something I have often done with little success in reaching my goals.  

Adding to that difficulty is when your focus is so much on the needs of your child in crisis that we often forget about the care of ourselves. This is another area in which I badly lost my way to reach those goals.  This coming year, I chose to make ones that ARE reachable.  These goals I pray, will bring my life less stress, give me more rest, and to encourage as well as comfort me when I am confronted with something difficult.  So, here they are.  Maybe you can add a couple onto your list of goals for 2018. Continue reading →

12.03.17
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Holiday Merry or Holiday Misery?

Holiday Merry or Holiday Misery - Anchor Of Promise

Parents who struggle with a teen in crisis find it extremely overwhelming to get through the holidays.  Although Thanksgiving has passed, another holiday is around the corner – Christmas.

While every other parent around you is singing in holiday cheer, you are thinking about how you can just get through the day.  While your co-worker or friend talks about how excited they are that their child is coming home for a holiday visit, you are thinking more about how to help your child in crisis.  Maybe you are faced with a child who needs to get into a detox program.  Maybe you need to figure out how to get your child to eat that holiday dinner when they struggle with an eating disorder.

And let us not forget those parents who have teens who have suicidal tendencies or mental health issues and are not into celebrating any holiday. Continue reading →

10.29.17
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When They Just Won’t Listen

When They Just Won't Listen - Anchor Of Promise

One of the biggest frustrations parents have is when their teen/young adult child is unwilling to listen to sound wisdom.  Even more frustrating is when your child is in crisis and thinks that their wisdom is more sound than yours. 

Teens and young adults are wrapped up in their emotions, feelings, and urgency of the circumstances that surround them.  This clouds the consequences of their choices and actions.   Continue reading →

09.05.17
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Surviving the Storms of Crisis

Surviving Through the Storms of Crisis - Anchor of Promise

The aftermath of Hurricane Harvey was a devastating blow to the state of Texas.  Although the warnings were there ahead of time, what couldn’t be predicted was the amount of destruction it would cause.

The families in Texas feel lost, depressed, discouraged, and unsure of the future.  For some, it left catastrophic effects and major loss of their property, animals, and even loved ones.

Around the corner now, Hurricane Irma is bearing down in the ocean leading another path to its target, although unknown at the moment.

To control a hurricane is like trying to control an earthquake.  The pre-existing facts are there, but it is too big to stop it.

We can often see the impending crisis with our teen similar to the radar of a hurricane.  To control or stop it is another matter.  We see the signs for example, in our drug addicted child or self-harming teen, but to bring a halt to their destructive behavior is not something we as parents can physically control.  Before we know it, the crisis is beyond our imagination of what we knew to be true. Continue reading →

08.20.17
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It’s a Scary World For Our Teens, and Us Too

 

Its a Scary World for Our Teens, and Us Too - Anchor Of Promise

Today, we are seeing a rise in violence and harm towards our children, pre-teens and teens.  Whether it is gun violence, physical/sexual assault, or self-inflicted harm, the younger generation is broken and hurting like never before.  

In our country, there is an increased devaluation of human life.  The sex-trade and human trafficking has crossed borders not only into our country but also in every state.  Immoral and worldly propaganda has filled their minds that right is wrong and wrong is right. Protecting our children has become a major priority among parents.  A teen in crisis raises that bar of protection because they are more vulnerable due to their shaky foundation.  

With so much uncertainty in this volatile world, our teens are also fearful.  We may believe their outrageous and risky behavior is coming from a tough interior, but this is not true.  They feel hopeless.  They think they are worthless. Their future seems bleak to them.  They feel alone.  In their minds, they don’t believe anyone loves them or cares about them.  They too, also see the world changing with not much to look forward to. Continue reading →