This article was written by Guest Blogger Aurelia Williams of Real Life Guidance.

Life as a teenager today is very different from when we were kids. Our lives were much less complicated, with school and family being the primary focus. When we turned 16 we applied for part-time jobs to earn our spending money and still managed to hang out with friends after work or on the weekends.

Teens today have many pressures we didn’t and they also tend to do more. Sports team practices have become more rigorous, there are more school clubs to choose from, and some kids spend their entire weekends working their part-time jobs to save for the ever-increasing college costs. Pressure to gain admission to a “good” college is more intense and during the summer months teens find ways to volunteer with a charity or summer camp, which is often a college requirement.

However, many teens are not mature enough to handle this adult pressure. They might need help with time management so they don’t spend all their time studying or working. Or they might need help paring down their after school activities so they can finish their homework and get enough rest each night.
Teens need parents who will guide them and give them sound advice. [Read more...]