Incarcerated Teen Parents

The youth prison system in Phoenix Arizona recently began a program to teach their incarcerated teenage fathers how to be better parents. Their 12 week program teaches both the teens and their toddlers about empathy, communication, and compromise, to help prevent the development of violence later in life.

One person commented on an article about the program saying "Don't encourage them to breed." I understand that most of the public is ignorant about such things, but let me take this opportunity to inform you that a large percentage of incarcerated teens are already parents. And those who find themselves in the juvenile jail system will be released before they are legal adults. Those who have been convicted of the most violent crimes will still be released by the age of 21. So the likelihood of them becoming parents at some point is very high.

Consequently, regardless of how you may feel about the current laws regarding teen offenders, isn't it better to educate them about how to be a successful parent? In my experience, even the toughest looking teen offenders can feel deep and enduring love for their children. And just like the rest of us, most of them want their children to grow up happy and healthy. Why not give them an opportunity to turn their life around for the sake of their children?

Agree or Disagree?

Warning Signs Of an Abusive Boyfriend

Teen girls are often easily controlled by their emotions and their heart instead of using their head. This can lead to getting themselves into troublesome relationships that can change their life for the worse. It is up to you, the parent, to get to know the boys your daughter is interested in and to set boundaries for her regarding dating, sex and self control. Help her learn to recognize the early warning signs of trouble before she gets in too deep with the wrong guy.

Here are the warning signs that your daughter may be in a relationship with an abuser:

* She rationalizes or apologizes for his behavior.
* She loses interest in friends and activities that she used to enjoy.
* She stops spending as much time with friends or family members.
* She becomes more isolated spending most or her spare time with him.
* He calls her names and denigrates her in front of other's.
* He becomes jealous of others who pay attention to her, especially other guys.
* He believes that you don't like him and uses this to form an alliance with her, against you.
* He controls her behavior, checking up on her constantly, calling and paging her, demanding to know who she has been with.
* He tells her how to dress, where she is allowed to go, who she is allowed to talk to.
* She casually mentions his violent behavior, but laughs it off as a joke.
* She often has unexplained injuries, or the explanations she offers for bruises or pain don't make sense.
* You see him violently lose his temper, striking or breaking objects.
* He has a history of being violent with others.
* He has unhappy or severed relationships with family members.
* At least one close family member has been in trouble with the law for abuse of another.
* He wants to talk your daughter into leaving home before her time to be with him.
* He drinks to excess or uses illegal drugs.
* He has children by other women and does not take responsibility for them.

If your daughter is already in a relationship with the wrong boy, it is imperative that you do whatever you can to save her from a potentially deadly relationship.

For more information on the profiles of abusers go to http://www.psych-net.com/abuse.html