YOUTH PAGE

Growing up is not easy.  At first we are not even able to meet our own needs, dependent upon others for food, shelter and clothing.  Then as we mature and learn about ourselves and our world, we take bigger steps and enter the world outside of the home.  And as we show more ability and others trust us more, we are given more responsibilities.

But we youth are still underage and minors.  We have many authorities to answer to:  our parents, our grandparents, siblings, teachers and principals, law enforcement.  Even our friends expect us to be accountable to them!  That is part of growing up and being a part of society.  We are never really truly free from being accountable to something (our community and nation) or someone (girlfriends and boyfriends!).   Meeting those expectations is showing responsibility. 

Expectations are placed on all of us.  Our parents expect certain actions, our schools expect us to be there and make passing grades.  Our coaches expect certain skills from us.  And our friends expect us to be there anytime and anyplace.  “I feel stressed and stretched, like some piece of taffy!  But I try to listen to them and please them.  What did I expect?”

It is a matter of choices.  We can choice to try to meet all of these pressures and probably not meet any of them or please anyone.  Or we can set some goals and prioritize what is important.  Setting goals makes some of the daily garbage we step in a little easier to deal with.  By having short term and long term goals, daily issues come down to a pretty basic question:  will acting in a certain way help me reach my goal or not?  If the answer is “yes” then it is probably a pretty decent choice.  If not, then it’s a “no brainer”.  Don’t do it!

Other risk factors impact growing up; substances like alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs take their toll.  High risk behaviors like sexual relations may force young folks into parenthood earlier than planned.  Emotional adjustments can cause personal problems; independence issues cause conflict with parents and authorities, depression can stop us from being ourselves, anger can push away those important to us, jealousy can destroy relationships.

Learning the skills to deal with pressure, communications, coping with life and self take commitment and effort.  Help to learn these and improve on them is available.  SFL can help with adjustment to life, to crisis and overcoming problems.  The schools and community have resources available to help you navigate through life’s maze.  For more information check out our other resources   Or call our office in your community.

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Please contact us if you have any questions:  contact@wysfl.com

Douglas	Glenrock	Lusk	Douglas Substance Free Solutions
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM Monday - Thursday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Friday	8:00 AM - 7:00 PM Monday - Thursday Closed Friday	8:00 AM - 7:00 PM Monday - Thursday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Friday	8:00 AM - 7:00 PM Monday - Thursday Closed Friday
1841 Madora Ave Douglas, Wyoming 82633	319 Birch St Suite 203 Glenrock, Wyoming 82637	905 South Main Lusk, Wyoming 82225	Madora Avenue Douglas, Wyoming 82633
(307) 358-2846	(307) 436-8335	(307) 334-3666	(307) 358-2846
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