DEAR(est) PARENTS - - - (!?)

You are probably now in the midst of the toughest, weirdest, most problematic time of your and your teenagers life!

Here's a strategy to occupy and build your teen’s future during these challenging or possibly boring days – to STRENGTHEN your teen’s future!!

The two most crucial life traits your teen SHOULD possess are Resilience and Resourcefulness.

Take advantage of this OPPORTUNE time [yes, it is!] to build on their existing resourcefulness by encouraging their creativity!!!

That creativity will be their ticket to great success in life!!! 

Any employer, any business owner or manager is ALWAYS looking for people with new and different ways to do anything at/ on their job or business. If your teen has that capacity, that will lead to raises and promotions.

Getting your student redirected and focused on something more positive and constructive [NOW!] can only be a good thing for your time together as well as their thinking skills.

Use this possible array of questions and any others you like to guide, enhance and evoke their thinking: 

 ·     What do you think really created this pandemic?

·       What could have been done to prevent it?

·       What should we do to prevent its ever occurring again?

·       What inventions do we need, to prevent the future need for

o   social distancing and sheltering in place and

o   cancelling school and

·        creating, finding, optimizing alternative learning modes?

·         What other or different changes to society or school – or anything – do you think we need?

Then, use second- and even third-level follow-up questions leading to exploration and wondering, even pilot-testing their ideas and replies.   

Always have "Why...?" as your fallback or further question: "I wonder WHY that didn't work" - or "I wonder WHY that will work?" - or "HOW we can make sure that works [or sells, on Shark Tank]?" – “What if this approach fails – HOW ELSE might we overcome it?”

It is TRULY these 2^nd and 3^rd level questions which will lead to ‘the gold’ – much like 10,000 attempts by Thomas Edison, to find a light bulb filament that worked!

Accept almost anything they say, even rejection and hostility. Allow that, [remain calm] and ask a follow-up question such as... “Tell me more – I’m not sure I follow that yet…”

The goal is Resilience and Resourcefulness – to build a winning and successful teen AND ADULT!!

Soldier on, powerful and nurturing parent!!