Close Topic Options

Rude LDS Teens - Difficult Mormon Teenagers

I went this member's house for a youth fireside and while I was in the kitchen helping bring out the refreshments I heard a daughter tell her mother in a real rude way that she wasn't going to do something she was asked to do. I was looking for a response from her mom but she just stayed quiet like she was used to it. I just started this post because I wanted to talk about this. I see it happen a lot sometimes. Not all of the teens speak to their parents bad but when we're talking sometimes they talk about their parents like they have this hate for them. What should I do to help them?

Teenagers Mormon Difficult Teens LDS Rude

Good Thread. I believe teens in general are more outspoken today than they ever were. The use of technology has brought everything to them (both good and bad) that they would not have otherwise seen until they are much older. This might give them the perception of 'knowing it all' or being 'awakened' into a higher sense of self. Of course all that is an illusion. I would hope parents of such children will take them to some serious service projects where people are hungry, homeless, and without parents, and maybe, just maybe they may get an appreciation for what they have.

Rude LDS Teens - Difficult Mormon Teenagers Studies Doctrine Mormon

Though it may be hard, my advice is to do nothing. It is not your responsibilty to change other peoples behavior relating to their family.

Brigham Young said:

It would be your responsibility if it were your own children or if you were a leader for them in Church and they were being rude to you or others under your stewardship. It is then your responsibility to discuss this with the teenager and teach them the correct way to treat others.

Edited: dbackers on 13th Jan, 2009 - 9:49pm

Teenagers Mormon Difficult Teens LDS Rude

Part of the problem is less parenting, more babysitting by TV. TV shows for kids are crass, rude, crude, and some are downright obscene. Most portray parents and all adults as bumbling idiots. So kids are taught by the "big box" to disrespect *all* adults. It doesn't really surprise me to find that some LDS teens are caught up in it.

I agree with Dbackers, though: Stay out of it, unless you have some kind of family responsibility to fulfill. If you know the parent well enough -- and I mean like "best friends" well enough -- you might commiserate with them and support them in efforts to cure the problem. Otherwise, parents don't much like discussing their kids' problems.

Teenagers Mormon Difficult Teens LDS Rude

Sorry, I missed the question about how you can help.

What about being an example?

What about observation - do they react that way to other adults or is it just their parents?

What about just talking with the teen about good things, getting to know their feelings and so forth - find out why they react that way?

Is abuse going on? Are they being hurt and this is a showing that they might be in need?

Or if they are just spoiled invite them to see how you treat your parents via FHE, outing or whatever. Of course all this is dependent on how much you know the teen in question.

I do not think one has to remove themselves and just be blind. One can help indirectly and in a round about way. I do not advocate going to the parents, but you can communicate on a peer to peer level understanding the situation a bit more until maybe the teen expresses her own feelings and then that opens the door to share your thoughts on the matter.

Rude LDS Teens - Difficult Mormon Teenagers

Name: WilfordW
Country:

Comments: How do you deal with teens who do not want to go to Church or do not take the Gospel seriously? Give em' a good whack and send them on their way.

Rude LDS Teens Difficult Mormon Teenagers

One of my brothers is going through that, my parents try very hard but he won't listen. I feel like they are giving up on him, if I was his mother I would kick his butt, cut off his privileges until he listens.

Rude LDS Teens Difficult Mormon Teenagers Mormon Doctrine Studies

I think an open, honest conversation needs to take place as well as allow the teen sometime to think and reflect. I don't think is good to force a child to go to Church because it produces the opposite effect. In my opinion, of course.