Speak your peace
Lost in space ?
BY DEBRA BECK
In my 20-plus years of mentoring teens and parents , I have never seen a greater disconnection between teens and their natural environment than I do now . When
I was young , I got up in the morning , walked to my friend ’ s house or called her on a phone that was attached to a wall , and made plans to get together . We didn ’ t care what we were doing as long as we were together . I have great memories of being outdoors , chewing on blades of grass and picking tangerines off a tree — then eating too many ! Sometimes we would go to the local mall , hang out , laugh and be silly . We were never bored ! My daughters were the same way when they were young : they got together with friends , they rode their bikes for hours , and generally entertained themselves .
Today , what I am seeing is teens spending much of their time on their cell phones , sending pictures through Instagram , Snap Chatting , messaging through Facebook and texting . Even when today ’ s teens do get together , it seems they ’ re not talking to each other . Instead , they are texting with someone else on their phones .
The number one complaint I hear from parents is : My teen spends way too much time on her phone . She never talks to me and when she ’ s home , she doesn ’ t leave her room . If I try to limit the use of her phone , she has a complete meltdown .
Conversely , the teen ’ s complaint is : My parents are always trying to take my phone away !
Parents used to get their children
26 IMAGINE l FALL 2016