Teens Q&As

How can I get my mother to realize that I’m not a kid anymore and that our relationship has changed? She and I have always been close, but it’s different now that I’m a teenager. Some of it’s my fault. I get moody, and I know that my behavior hurts her sometimes. I wish she …

What can I do about kids texting intimidating messages to my cell phone and posting mean rumors about me on Facebook? At first I tried to ignore them, but the situation has gotten so bad that I don’t want to show my face at school anymore. These people are destroying my life!

Can you help me deal with a mom who is always putting me down? Nothing I do is ever good enough for her. My room is never clean enough, my grades are never high enough, my friends are always a “bad influence,” and my hair and clothes are always an “embarrassment to the family.” There …

As a Christian, do I always have to make things right with someone I’ve offended? In Matthew 5:23 and 24 Jesus tells us to mend broken relationships before turning to God in worship or prayer. This verse has been weighing on my mind these past few days. I did something that may have been hurtful …

Do you think it’s wise to take a year off after graduating from high school? I’ve told my parents that I don’t want to enroll in college until next fall, but they have doubts about my plan. They’re concerned that I’ll lose momentum, and they’re also worried about my health insurance coverage. What do you …

Can you help me deal with a dad who is a very angry and abusive person? He’s never been physically violent, but he bad-mouths my mom, my sister, and me almost constantly. I’d move out if I was old enough, but I’m not. What can I do?

Why has God given teens such strong a sexual drive and no healthy, acceptable way to satisfy it? This just doesn’t seem fair. In Bible times people got married at a younger age. As a result, it was normal to have sex and start raising kids before you reached the age of 20. These days, …

Can you offer any assistance to a teenager who is pregnant and needs some help? My parents don’t know about my condition yet, but they’re going to find out eventually, and I have no idea how to talk to them. What should I do?

Can you help me and my girlfriend figure out what to do now that she’s pregnant? Neither one of us is old enough to take care of a child on our own. I’ve been raised in a Christian home, and I’ve always believed that abortion is out of the question, but right now it’s hard …

How can I tell my boyfriend that I don’t want to have sex with him anymore? We’ve been together for a long time and only recently became physically intimate. I realize now that I regret this decision. Can you help me?

What’s unsafe about “safe sex?” This message you communicate on this subject is the opposite of everything I’ve ever heard from my teachers at school and other responsible adults. What are your reasons for calling “safe sex” a myth?

What’s the relationship between drugs, alcohol, and teen suicide? What should we do if we suspect that our child might be at risk for any of these behaviors?

How do I put a stop to the sexual relationship in which I’ve become involved with one of my siblings? It’s hard to explain how it came about. I have a feeling that it all began long before I was even aware of what was happening. Now that I’m fully conscious of it, I feel …

What’s the best way for a teen girl to ask a boy out on a date? How do you think I should go about it?

I’m 18, single, and pregnant, but I don’t want to release my baby for adoption. Why should I? I could never give up my child to strangers who might turn out to be weird and abusive. Besides, my parents have already promised to help me (they don’t approve of adoption anyway). I’ve even got a …