By Ken Cureton, Youth Team Director
Windsor Community UMC
[From The Branch, May 2006]

May 2006

Working with teenagers can really be a roller coaster ride. They have limited attention spans, to say the least, and they are often clueless about the world around them. They tend to be forgetful, and sometimes they have a tough time with communication skills. They also can be wonderful to be around. They share freely, they laugh a lot and they look out for each other. They are candid, direct and animated in their conversations.

Something that is difficult to see if you are in the middle of their lives is that they really do seek approval and validation from the important adults around them. I spent my young life saying I was never going to be the way my parents were when I grew up, but in the end I find myself doing just what I said I would never do, as most of us adults find ourselves doing. It is because we really do respect those who are most influential in our lives, even if we did think they were a pain when we were young.

Kids can be surprisingly able when they are asked to do an activity or project if you just let them know you trust them. Every day they have to please an amazing array of bosses, such as teachers, parents, coaches, and employers. How many adults could or would live with that kind of pressure?

Unfortunately, we adults present kids with the toughest stuff they have to deal with. Sometimes we ignore them, push them away or make them feel small. Sometimes we are even afraid of them. We are quick to point out their failures and treat their accomplishments as something expected. We talk at them rather than with them. It is difficult to let them learn to make their own choices, and when they do we are sure to point out the poor choices and forget to notice the good ones.

The people in our congregation make our youth feel important, valuable and a part of something. It is a wonderful nurturing environment, and I think we can all see the effect it has on our youth. I often hear what a great bunch of kids they are. There is no doubt about that, but they are allowed to be great kids by a great bunch of caring adults.