Dear Parents and Guardians of our Parish's Middle and High School Teens,
Hello! Sorry for the delay on this week's OPM Email. I noticed the email wasn't sent yesterday when I came to the YM Office this morning and checked my inbox. I messed up on the email scheduler. AKKKKKK!! Here it is!
This is the 15th issue of our Online Parent Ministry! I hope and pray that the OPM is useful for you! I encourage you to try one of the "Family Experiences!"
Each week, the OPM Emails include a theme, links to articles, conversation starters, videos, and much more to help you know more about your teen's world.
One permanent feature of our Online Parent Ministry is the "Family Experiences." Click on the link below and then click on whatever grade your teen is in this school year. You will find a few downloads including a page called "the Development Guide" that details all the physical, spiritual, and social changes your teen will experience at that particular age. It's full of good information! The other pages will help you plan that year's "Family Experience."
This week, I am highlighting the "9th Grade Family Experience." Teens are expensive! (Can I get an Amen?) Your 9th grader wants to join everything and go everywhere with their friends - and they have no concept of money! One of the activities in this Family Experience is about teaching teens what things actually cost. I think you will both enjoy it! Check it out!
Please reach out if you have any suggestions or if you found a great resource for parents and families that you think I should include in future OPM emails!
Peace,
Today's Online Parent Ministry email is a fun one! This week we delve into "teenspeak." Teens have a unique language and quirky slang - it can really be confusing. This week's OPM is here to help you translate!
Dear Parents and Guardians,
I was talking to the mom of one of our teens after Mass a couple of weeks ago. She was telling me how she is monitoring her daughter's cell phone usage, social media presence, and texting - but she had some questions. Her daughter's texts were very confusing to her - she had a hard time understanding what the heck her daughter was saying! Three examples of "teenspeak" confused her. I knew two of them right away, but the third one was new to me! I introduced her to Urban Dictionary as I looked up the mystery word. We both learned something new on that beautiful Sunday afternoon!
In the 36 years that I have been a Youth Minister, I have seen lots of teen slang come and go. It's always changing and most of the time it is pretty amusing as I hear these new terms being used in conversations with teens. So for the last couple of weeks, I have been compiling a list of all the latest and greatest examples of teen speak for you. I am sure it's not a complete list - and in the 2 weeks since I wrote it, I am sure that it is already out of date!
I pray my efforts will help you understand your teen better - literally! I hope you have an amazing week ahead!
If parents talked like teens... Enjoy!
Sunday Alive! is another resource that will help you and your family be more present and prepared to receive the message of the Mass! Read the readings before you come to Church, and take a look at the rest of the "Sunday Alive!" handout. It also contains the Saint of the Week, discussion questions for the family on the message of this Sunday's Gospel, and much more! Enjoy!
Here is another way to deepen your faith this Lent! One of my Team Members shared with me a great resource - it's great! I want to share it with you! It's called "OurDailyVerse.com" Every day you get a beautiful graphic of a verse from scripture that you can share with others on your social media. There is a beautifully written devotional and prayer as well! Sign up today and check it out! Please share it with your teen!
Please reach out if you ever have any questions, personal needs, or even suggestions for our Online Parent Ministry! I will send our usual weekly email on Thursday, Have a great week!
