Stealing

Why did she start stealing?

She gets good grades, she has nice friends, and she appears relatively 'normal.' So why did my daughter start stealing?

It's not as unusual as one would think for teen girls that appear healthy and well-behaved to start misbehaving in one specific area: stealing. But what would drive these teen girls to steal when they seem to have such a promising future? Some experts believe that it's because of the pressure put onto teen girls to be beautiful. They may steal clothes, jewelry, or makeup so that they can appear more beautiful. If they don't have the money, they still feel the pressure and the need to be liked, so they justify stealing. Does that make it right? Of course not. But there may be more to it than appears on the surface.

Read a preview of the article from our website:

Young girls today are constantly bombarded with products they MUST buy that will make them more beautiful, happier, and more popular, with greater satisfaction in their lives. And, it isn't just while they are watching TV. Now these young girls have in the palm of their hands all the information on the internet. Every hour of every day they are poked and prodded to spend money. The reality, however, is that most young girls don't have jobs and rely on mom and dad for money. And unless their parents are well off, most young people can't get enough to meet their so-called needs.

Read the full article here: http://goo.gl/e6EmZh

Body Image

For a question that shouldn't be that difficult, this sure seemed to stump a lot of women

Why is it so much easier for women to compliment their friends instead of themselves? This video is a brief social experiment as part of +Dove's Campaign For Real Beauty, where pairs of women were asked what they like about themselves. You may be surprised by the answer. Then, they are asked what they like about their friend, which almost immediately results in a compliment. Perhaps, if women and girls were taught to appreciate their bodies and love themselves, rather than being shown images constantly of what they "should" look like, then the world would be a more loving and compassionate place. Read a preview of the accompanying article from +The Huffington Post:

If you were asked to name one thing you really love about your body, what would your initial reaction be? And would it be far easier to compliment your friends' sparkling eyes, glowing complexion, curvaceous hips and toned legs than openly praise your own looks? 

According to a compelling new ad from Dove, the latest video in the brand's Campaign For Real Beauty, the answer to that second question is a resounding -- and heartbreaking -- yes. Dove asked pairs of women on the street what they love about their own bodies and received nervous laughter, "hmmms," and "I don't knows" in response. But when the same women were asked to answer the same question about their female friends, they gushed.

Read the article in its entirety here: http://goo.gl/efwraE

New Year's Resolution: Talk to Your Teen

And other resolutions to make this a great year with your teen daughter

(Image: +Shutterstock)

As a parent of a teen, it wouldn't be unusual for you to seek new options to make this year better than last in your relationship with your daughter. As rated by Charlotte Tallman of the Las Cruces Sun- News, these are the top resolutions to work on with your teen:

1. Talk to Your Teen
2. Know the Myths vs. Facts
3. Understand the Consequences
4. Know the Trends
5. Know What to Look For

Here's a preview of the article from +Las Cruces Sun-News:

It is another year, and parents can be among those with resolutions that could impact the lives of their teens. The Unified Prevention! (UP!) Coalition for a Drug Free Doña Ana County, an initiative of the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico, offers this list of the top five beneficial New Year resolutions for parents of teens.

1. Talk to Your Teen. The National Youth Anti-Drug Campaign focuses on the fact that parents are influential as teens move through school and face a variety of pressures and emotions. Research shows that kids who learn from their parents about the dangers of risky behaviors like drug use, underage drinking, tobacco use and dangerous driving are less likely to engage in those behaviors.

Read the full article here: http://goo.gl/qYl38O

PTSD and Exposure Therapy

A new study from the +University of Pennsylvania suggests that teens with PTSD may benefit from exposure therapy.

Teens with PTSD that have experienced a serious trauma event may soon have a new option: exposure therapy. The study found success in this new method, and it could change how some teens are treated.

Preview the article from the +Los Angeles Times:

Teens who have been sexually traumatized benefit more from therapy that includes recounting the assault than from supportive counseling, a study suggests.

Such exposure treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder has had some success among adults. But it has not found favor for treatment of teens because of fear that it could exacerbate symptoms for young adults who have not developed robust coping skills.

Read the full article here: http://goo.gl/pNgi2Y

S'mores for Winterfest

The girls put together over 1000 mini s'more kits for the winterfest as service to the kids that got to attend. They did an amazing job and the kids had so much fun.

Snow is falling at the Ranch

The girls have had a lot of fun the last couple days playing in the snow! 

Give Thanks

Thanksgiving was a fun day here at Falcon. The girls hung out in PJ's, ate lots of food, and watched movies. They focused on what they are greatful for having and all the service and work they have done in the past couple weeks.

They have worked very hard and continue to grow and learn more about themselves everyday. Our focus has been to give Thanks in Everything.