From Melony H. (who used to be a teen in the youth group in my church, but who is now a 20-something mom):  “Suzie, Many years ago you told me to give my mom 5 hugs in a course of a week, do you remember that? I finally gave her that hug the other day, it’s been 15 years since I’ve hugged her. It was a little weird but it’ll get better the more I do it. Thank you so much for writing The Mom I Want to Be. I would have never looked through my parents eyes and understood what they were feeling when they were raising us. I have forgiven them because you helped me see.”

 

Keeping Her Word

B.J. Hamrick, RTF Staff Writer

I’ve always told my sister, Molly, that I would write about her. She’s always told me that if I do, I’ll be the one who ends up being written about – on the obituary page of the local newspaper. At least the police will know who to look for when my bloated, lifeless body floats to the top of the local river tomorrow.

It will. Because Molly always keeps her word. (more…)

Lynn, a mom to a teen, read my book “Real Issues, Real Teens: What Every Parent Needs to Know“. In it a teen shares that if she could tell her mom anything, she would tell her about all the times she struggled with a guy who was physically abusing her and was making her feel like her life didn’t count.

I shared with parents how important it was to listen — all the way to the end. Without lectures, or “in my day” stories, and without freaking out, and gave practical helps to reconnect with their teen and to really hear what they were saying.

A mom named Lynn read that story and that chapter and had a great talk with her teen son–one she didn’t expect and one that was amazing to her. This is what she had to say: (more…)

I don’t know where to turn anymore. My family relationship is getting worse and worse, and when I try to open up to my friends, they just blow me off because I have been unrealistically known as the easy going, happy girl.

I love my jesus, but this is getting my focus off of him, making fall deeper and deeper. I was struggling with suicidal thoughts in 7th grade, and they are coming back again…Is there anything I can do to help me deal or something? I’m scared. Katherine (more…)

Real Teens, Real Stories, Real Life was my first book, published in 2002. I met so many teens as I wrote this book. Many of their stories were powerful. One of those most amazing and difficult story was written by a teen named Nichole.

In her story, on page 69, titled “A Place to Call Home”, she shared what it was like to be raised in a home where dad raised marijuana, where they were kicked out of their home, or ran from police.

One day her parents took all of their belongings to a storage shelter. They left behind all of their furniture, but they also left something else very important behind at that storage building:

Eleven-year-old Nichole. (more…)

 

Head-On

by Lydia Rule, RTF Staff Writer

Here is the understatement of the century: people do not get along. In fact, confrontations between people can get downright nasty. (more…)

Hi, my name is Angel. I am 16 years old. I have read almost your whole book called Real Teens, Real Stories, Real Life. Its a really good book. I just sat down on day feeling alone, depressed and I came across your book. I just sat there reading this book all day. Well anyway I have a problem with drinking, smoking pot, I lie, cheat and steal from the people I love. Its hard for me to tell the truth its mostly because I’m scared to tell the truth.

I grew up in a home with alcohol, drugs and abuse. I wasn’t taught about God and the things he can do. When I was about 5 my father was taken from me and my brother, it was his alcohol and drugs that caused him to take his life. 

As I grew up I blamed him for everything. I blamed him for my alcohol abuse my drug use. I was about 12 when I had my first drink. It scares me sometimes, I drink until I come to a complete blackout. I hurt people and I don’t remember. It hurts me to see my mother cry. She is trying really hard to become a Christian.

I try to stop everything that I am doing, but I can’t do it on my own.  Please write back.

(more…)

My dad is bad on drugs and I love him so much but I don’t know what to do, I pray and pray for him but it seems like he keeps getting worse I don’t want to give up on him because God wouldn’t want me to but it seems like there’s nothing I can do? – Shawntaine (more…)