How to deal with PreTeen & Teen Girls during Online school Thank You Covid19

I wrote this poem on June 9th 1998, when I was just about 14 years old. I have many poems & diary's from past years, some are absolutely awful, other still have the power to make my eyes well up. Perhaps that is because I know in what context they were written in, the people they were written about, & what they actually meant/mean to me.

Now that I have a 14 year old daughter of my own, I am wondering exactly just how she could be feeling during these crazy times of Covid19 & Trump Supporters storming the capital. Even though we do live in Canada, American politics are every where we live.

LIFE as we know it will never be the same, and I mean just being 14 years old your whole world feels like that anyway, so how does one that age, cope? How can a parent help their teen through these next few days, weeks, months, YEARS EVEN?

SHARE! LISTEN! DON'T JUDGE!

I WANT!

I want to stop hurting for just one day,

I want to talk to you and not care what you say.

I want to NOT cry for just one night

I want to stop thinking and KNOW that I'm RIGHT!

I want to stop being scared, stop being mad, I want to think about,

All the things I have to look forward to, not just all the things I've already had...

I want to look in the mirror and like who I see, I don't want to just dream about who I want to be....

Now as I read my poem I realize I want a lot, I'm always looking at what I want and not what I've already got.....

By: Laurie Chambers (Age 13 June 9th 1998)

I shared this poem with my daughter in hopes that it would help her to understand she isn't alone, that not only myself but so many other young/old girls have felt the exact same way she has been feeling lately. I remember being a bit older then my daughter when 9/11 happened. I remember how scary that time was, and I know this must feel even more stressful for all these kids. They are already normally thinking things like...

Am I not enough?

Am I really so stupid?

There is nothing I am really good at, so why bother trying at anything?

These are all excuse we have been telling ourselves for so long we may not even know who the 1st person who said them to us were. You may not know why you seem to always feel like your NOT ENOUGH. It has been that mindset that has kept you so small, never really going out and fully trying to put yourself out there in the world. Believe me I know, I have done it and still sometimes do the EXACT same thing. So please my sweet girl, KNOW that if nothing else I do "GET IT". I will do my best to Listen when you speak and hear your words before I make a quick judgment, I do remember how tough 14 was all those years ago, I can also see things haven't gotten much easier either with the internet, social media, with kids who are just being mean because they have really awful parents , or maybe even no parents at all, so do your best to be kind, for when human release negative energy, it only ever comes back on them 10 fold.

So when you want your child to be calm and relax you must lead by example.

If your child wakes up in tears begging you not to go to school, online or the real deal, don't make them go, let them have a mental health day, and regroup for the next day. Perhaps let them even teach you to do the same thing with yourself..... Now more then ever we all need Mental Health Days, more so then I think we need actual sick days.

Take Deep Breaths and Walk Away when you have had enough, sometimes a little space and a break can do wonders, for both MOM & KID

Be the change you wish to see in this world and you will never fail, with your children. Let them be your guide, let them set the pace, it's ok if you didn't get all the TO DO LIST done in their Google Classroom today, tomorrow is always another day. And even then if it doesn't get done.....

IT'S ALL STILL GONNA BE OKAY!!! I PROMISE!