Unfortunately dating violence isn’t as rare as we might think (or at least hope). But there isn’t a lot of education on the matter. Our teens have sex education class that teaches them about their bodies and pounds the abstinence message in to their head, but there is very little talk about healthy relationships and teen dating violence.

According to Love Is Not Abuse, 62% of dating tweens have a friend who has been verbally abused by a boyfriend/girlfriend. And only about half of tweens actually know the warning signs. Scary!

We need to talk to our teens about healthy relationships. Teens should be treating their partner with respect. No name calling or jealous rage. Teens need to understand Teen Dating Bill of Rights and Pledge. And they need to know the warning signs of an abusive relationship so they can get out early and know when to seek help.

A teen should ask, “Am I dating somebody who…”

• calls me names?
• tells me how what I can and cannot wear?
• tells me who I can and cannot talk to?
• won’t let me hang out with my friends?
• is jealous or possessive?
• won’t let me make any decisions?
• threatens me?
• is violent? Gets in to fights all the time? And brags about it?
• tries to pressure me to have sex?
• abuses alcohol and drugs?
• tries to control me?
• hits me?
• puts me down?
• makes me feel bad about myself?

Relationships are supposed to be loving and supportive. If you’re miserable then it’s time to get out. If it’s abuse then it’s time to seek help. Nobody deserves to suffer at the hands of somebody who is supposed to love them.

Post from: Blisstree

Educating Teens About Dating Violence

Convince underage girls not to drink by letting them know their drunken antics will be the butt of many jokes. Humiliation goes a long way with a teenage girl. Watch the videos on ALot2Lose.com with your daughter and see what she thinks.

Speaking of underage drinking, Vanessa Van Petten gives us the facts about teen drinking.

And Liz at This Full House points us to another great site called Grltlk.org website as she starts talking to her teens about drinking.

According to The Teen Drug Abuse Blogs, communication is the best way to fight drug abuse among teens. Are you communicated with your teens? Not just lecturing, but actually communicating and listening?

So how do you become and active listener? You use your whole body.

Paris Hilton is searching for her new best friend on MTV. Oh help us.

Is your teen the next Steven Spielberg? Or a comedian like Dane Cook? Or quirky like Jim Carrey? Then they might interested in MTV’s movie spoof contest. They could win a trip to the 2008 MTV Movie Awards.

Movie spoofs not their thing? Are they more of the Alex P. Keaton variety? [On a sidenote, I called my son Alex P. Keaton the other day and he didn't know what I was talking about. Oh the humanity.] Well he/she can post a video about what the new president should do on his/her very first day in office.

Or is your teen an aspiring journalist who wants to cover the election? Wiretap is looking for Millennials (age 18 to 28) to blog about the election.

Get in to the election spirit with a Declare Yourself Vote t-shirt from American Eagle.

Did you know eating disorder may be contagious?

Philly schools cut snacks and it helped kids lose weight. I’m still trying to figure out why schools ever introduced soda and candy machines in the first place.

But then again, with junk food bans kids are selling candy in the black market…or at least at school in secret. And they are making a profit. They are quite the entrepreneurs.

Teen dating violence is on the rise. We need to take notice and put a stop to this. Keep track of your teens.

Have you heard about this new children’s book, My Beautiful Mommy? It explains plastic surgery to kids. Thoughts?

Vanessa Van Petten tells us what to do if our teen wants to wear clothes we don’t find appropriate.

YPulse has some interesting tidbits about teen credit card debt, female athletes and catholic youths.

Over at Adventures in Parenting there is an interesting (and scary) prom story. Good thing her daughter was cautious and checked out the stoned limo driver before she got in the car.

A U.K. store was criticized for selling a plunging, padded bra for kids as young as seven. I recently had this same issue with a bathing suit I bought at Old Navy for my eight-year-old.

Post from: Blisstree

Sunday Reading