August 29, 2006
~Real Article~
Author: Rick Lawrence
A few years ago I asked youth groups to produce a 60-second TV commercial advertising what kids want most from adults. We got 30 or so entries representing every niche on the quality continuum. Good or bad, the commercials shared a common cry—young people desperately want adults to respect them.
They want responsibility. They want to be heard. And above all, they don’t want to be treated like children.
Of course, the reason kids crave adults’ respect is simple—they don’t feel they’re getting it now. Why not? . . .
Read rest of article here.
FROM RTF:
A few years back I went to a camp to be a dean. I loved hanging out with teens. In fact, this picture is one of me with two friends right after splashing through Mud Mountain.
As Dean I had a larger view of the “respect issue”. Most of the campers were amazing, but there were moments when several were not. I was called out of bed at 2 to make rowdy girls quiet down so others could sleep. I had to make girls pick up trash when they refused to play by the rules. I had to remind some girls to respect others, and to give people they didn’t know not only respect, but friendship or compassion.
No FUN!
But one day I watched as a whole group of girls made life miserable for their counselor. I walked over to a game that was being played and saw that two girls were making it difficult for everyone. The counselor was nearly in tears. The other girls were frazzled. One girl turned around when called on her behavior by the camp staff and said, “bite me”.
It wasn’t just that it was disrespectful, but it was out of control.
I let her know that “bite me” wasn’t going to cut it, and that I cared and believed she would and could do better. I wanted to respect her and whatever was going on in her life to make her so angry, but at the same time request that she give respect to others around her.
“Nothing’s going on in my life,” she said. “I just think the game is stupid.”
The girl and I became friends throughout the week. I came to love her. But respect is a two-way street and I hope that she got that. If not, she’s going to make relationships in her life pretty frustrating.
I’d like to hear what you have to say about respect. Tell me your two cents on this topic. Respect, yes? No? What’s the deal?
Suzie
