A lot has been said of late about the present generation of young people and, as usual, there is a lot of finger-pointing going on over who is to blame for the crime, teen pregnancy, alcohol and drug abuse.  Probably the most wide-spread blame is placed on the parents for not overseeing and connecting with their children and the blame is well-placed.  Problem is, most parent are woefully prepared to discuss tough issues with their early teen-age children.

Of the three afore-mentioned problems, many more families are touched by drug, alcohol, and pregnancy.  The legal system will handle criminal behavior, councilling will help with alcohol abuse, but who is out there to help the parents deal with the results of the current atmosphere of sexual permissiveness that is resulting in so many babies getting pregnant and the subsequent life-changing reality of bringing another child into the world, under the most stressful conditions.

But, HOW do parents learn to deal with teen-age sexuality and experimentation?  HOW do we fight the attack on our childrens’ innocence brought on by the films and television portrayals of free sex? 

It’s time to bring on the infantry!

A dedicated group of parishioners of St. George’s Parish in Erie have invested their time and talent in learning how to do just that.  Family Honor of NWPA is up and running, and ready to help.  They have been thoroughly trained and educated in how to teach families  to deal with the issues that are sure to arise as the children begin to take their first baby steps through puberty and into adulthood.

One of the purposes of Family Honor is to make that task a bit easier for parents and teens alike.

I was honored to witness the  Family Honor crew as they presented their program to a group of almost 30 teens and their parents this weekend at St. James Place.

The presentation was respectful, professional, and very thorough.  The subject of sexual responsibility was covered from every aspect in clear and easily understood terms.  There were individual talks and PowerPoint presentations, sessions with just the girls, just the boys, and just the parents, and sessions with everyone together.  A time when everything is on the table, not hidden from view.  A time for questioning by both parent and child, and the team performed with great respect to address the questions as fully as needed.  By the way, there were many questions, answers from the team, and time for the little family groups to talk everything over among themselves.

I did not take part in the program–I was just the go-for guy and barrista.  But I could hear and see the difference in the actions and attitudes of the kids who took part.  And hope in the minds of the parents.  I was impressed beyond words.  (Dale Hannah, beyond words, you say?????????)  Really, I was.  If you have children of this age group (7th and 8th grades), please find a way to make the sacrifice to attend one of their programs.  ‘REAL LIFE and REAL LOVE’.  Coming soon to a venue near you–a can’t-miss presentation by Family Honor of Northwest Pennsylvania.  Show times and information are available at:  familyhonornwpa@aol.com. 

Do it for yourselves, but mostly for your children.  Help them navigate the wilderness of their teens in safety!  They WILL thank you for it, someday.  They really will………………………I promise.