Walking the Tightrope: Teens
Being a teenager isn't a bed of roses, says Sally Codman, highlighting the fact with statistics on the sad plight of youngsters who are thrown out of their own homes.
Those of us who've left our own teenage years far behind think our teenagers have never had it so good.
They get free bed and meals, a laundry service, a taxi service, pocket money, school trips, holidays, clothes, advice (whether they want it or not),the opportunity to try a variety of hobbies, plus help with homework, forms, university applications, open house for their friends and a listening ear whenever they need one.
We never had it so good, and never tire of telling them so, yet despite all these advantages, I admit that I'd think twice if offered the chance to re-live the 'Teenage Experience' - because despite all the media hype and spin, being a teenager isn't all a bed of roses.
Mentally and physically you're going through tremendous changes and if you're one of the unlucky ones stuck in ugly duckling rather than swan mode, or a family with lots of problems, life can be hard.
The pressure is on to look like a model or a footballer, dress like a pop star, be talented or clever, preferably both, and aspire to any dream job you fancy, whether or not you have the abilities to succeed in this particular career.
Teen TV programmes promote the sort of 'Californian Dream' teenage lifestyle where the characters are cute, talented or funny (except of course the teachers and parents, who are so stupid you wonder how they've managed to live so long).
In these idyllic teen soaps the sun always shines and the gang spend their school time swapping girl or boyfriends and worrying about whether they'll make the football team or be chosen as a cheerleader. Holidays, sorry, vacations, are spent at the beach, surfin' or partying or hangin' around at the Mall shopping.
So the harsh reality of life on a West Yorkshire council estate with not an open air swimming pool in sight, is a bit of a 'down to earth with a bump' experience, to put it mildly.
Yep, life as a teenager in a caring, sharing family is tough enough, but life as a teen in a family which has its own problems could prove unbearable and a million miles removed from the idyllic life the Media keeps hyping.
Two disturbing reports published this year show many local teenagers find life very hard and adopt habits that could store up physical, emotional and mental health problems for the future.
According to a deeply disturbing report by The Children's Society Charity*, 500 West Yorkshire children under 16 and many thousands nationally, are thrown out of their homes, or run away, each year.
The Report, 'Thrown Away: Young People Forced to Leave Home' says few of these youngsters are reported missing to the police, so their plight goes unnoticed. It is part of the Children's Society's 'Safe and Sound' Campaign, to persuade Councils throughout the country to provide safe emergency accommodation, guidance and family mediation for these young runaways.
The Charity's Chief Executive, Bob Reitemeier, said that because these runaways had suffered severe rejection, abuse, neglect or bullying, they were more likely to use drugs or be abused by strangers who offered them somewhere to stay.
The other Report, by Dr Judith Hooper of North Kirklees Primary Health Care Trust, reveals one in ten 14-yr-olds in this area have unprotected sex weekly, one in five is addicted to tobacco, almost one in four drinks alcohol - with a third drinking alone - and that many youngsters know nothing about sexually transmitted infections.
Dr Hooper also revealed that the high number of local teenage pregnancies was not falling, despite a variety of projects, and that although many youngsters were aware that their lifestyles were unhealthy, they chose to ignore this.
The importance of supportive family relationships and effective parenting was highlighted by Dr Hooper, who said the quality of family relationships was crucial for the future health of people in North Kirklees.
I'd go so far as to say it's crucial to the future health of Mankind.
Being a parent is an exhausting, challenging, frustrating, demanding, rewarding and wonderful job, but it's not one to take on lightly.
Those car stickers that read ' A puppy is for life, not just for Christmas' always make me want to stick another one above them reading:- 'A baby is for life - not just until it becomes, difficult, demanding, annoying or a problem, or until YOU think it's old enough to fend for itself!'
* See www.childsoc.org for the full report.
