Tips for Teens in a Bad Relationship

If you or a friend is dealing with a violent or unhealthy relationship, you are not alone. A bad relationship can happen to anyone. For starters, I’m glad you’re open to getting help. Just by getting this far, you’ve taken a big step. Most importantly, I want you to know you are valuable, worthy, and beautiful.

A few of my friends want to share some tips of their own. Watch this video to see what they have to say. Then, read the other info we have at Girls With Dreams about dating violence.

Dating Violence: Teens Share what They See

Have you ever been a victim of dating violence? How about one of your friends? Unfortunately, many teens have experienced dating violence in one way or another. If it hasn’t touched them personally, many people know someone who has dealt with it. Check out what teens have seen when it comes to dating violence.

If you or a friend is in a violent relationship, be sure to read these important tips.

Teen Reactions to Rihanna and Chris Brown

Recent headlines about Rihanna and Chris Brown remind us all of the prevalence of dating violence. I wanted to find out what teens think about the couple. Most of the feedback I’ve heard suggests that Rihanna should’ve done more to stand up for herself. Many girls said things such as, “it was her fault” or “she should have left” or “she shouldn’t have gone back to him”. Here are a few thoughts our Girls With Dreams team shared.

Watch for more tips on dating violence and read some of our earlier posts here.

Teens and the Recession: Tips to Help You Save

Yes, even teens are feeling the crunch of the recession. However, the teens I talked to have had an amazingly positive outlook about how they can deal with it.

Here are a few teen girls sharing their ideas on how you can save money and deal with the recession positively. Watch and let us know your ideas at info@girlswithdreams.com.

Use Your Prom Dress to Help Other Girls

Are you going to Prom this year? Have you ever imagined what it would be like if you weren’t able to go to Prom because you couldn’t afford a dress? That’s the case for thousands of girls. Guess what? You can help! Whether your Prom’s around the corner or you just kicked off your dancing shoes, consider donating one of your old prom dresses to help another teen girl. Many schools organize dress drives, so ask around to see if you have one at your school or start one of your own!.

Self-Esteem and Confidence in Teen Girls

Why are self-esteem and confidence such big problems for teen girls? More importantly, how can we all work together to build each other up? I know I struggled with confidence as a teen, and I still have challenges with it. I think if you talk to most women, on some level, having a positive self-image can be challenging at times. I want to change this! Don’t you? Here’s a few tips to get you started. Also, be sure to watch other teens sharing their tips in this confidence builders video.

Start with the positives. What areas allow you to excel? What makes you feel confident?

Make a pact with your friends (or your Girls With Dreams Friend Circle). Agree to remind each other when you’re talking in a negative way about yourself. Promise to help lift each other up instead.

Write a positive message about yourself and stick it on your mirror. It might say, “I’m beautiful” or “I’m a great softball player” or “I’m a great volunteer.”

Reach out. Ask people you admire how they developed their self-esteem and confidence.

Spending Spring Break at Home

If you’re not headed out to have some fun in the sun, there’s still plenty to do in your hometown. I talked to a lot of girls who stayed home this year and they still had a great time. Here’s a few ideas girls shared for spring break.

• Get caught up on sleep. You could even pamper yourself by spritzing your sheets with a scented spray or listening to a relaxing CD to soothe you to sleep.
• Hang out with the friends you haven’t seen in awhile because you’ve been too busy with school.
• Have a major movie marathon, with food and decorations related to the theme of the movies.
• Enjoy the outdoors! Go for a walk, bike, or rollerblade.
• Be a tourist in your own town. Check out sites you don’t normally visit. If you live in St. Louis, for example, head to the City Museum, the Arch, or the Zoo.
• Grab dinner with a group of friends or throw a potluck party at one of your houses. Have everyone bring a beverage, appetizer, main course, side dish or desert.
• Pick up a few more shifts at work to save up for something special.
• Go bowling. Better yet, organize your own mini-tournament with your friends. The losing team buys pizza for the group afterwards.

What about you? If you stayed home this year, tell us what you did!

Drunk Driving and Teens

Talk to most teens and they will tell you they know someone who has driven drunk orimpacted by drunk driving in some way.  I’m going to be blunt.  There’s no excuse for it. Whether a teen or a grown up, when you’re getting behind the wheel of a vehicle, you are not only responsible for the lives of everyone in your car but also the other drivers on the road.  Hear other teens share their experiences with drunk driving on one of our latest videos. Teens and Drunk Driving

Do You Have a Minute to Make a Difference?

I’m a writer. I’m a respected student. I’m a great girlfriend. I’m a caring friend. I’m a warrior.

Who are you? Who have you been? What have you done for others?

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There is more to Autism than words. Who are you if you have Austim? Are you the future Picasso? Are you a runner? Are you just an average joe? There’s more to you than the word Autistic.

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5 Venting Tips for Teens

We all get angry. We get pouty and frustrated. Most of the time we blame what we’re mad about on others when we know it’s our fault, or is that just me? Although I get moody at times, I know that people around me have bad moods also. Here are a few basic ideas to help you vent until you can think through the situation:

Rip
Write everything that’s bothering you on a sheet of paper. Tear it into pieces or crumple it up and toss it.

Run
Use your anger for something productive. Run or walk for two miles, by yourself or with a friend.

Talk
Sometimes the best thing to do is to talk to someone. Instead of turning to your best friend (who’s probably already heard the story of your boyfriend breaking up with you plenty of times), talk to the girl who sits next to you in Math class. We usually get the best advice from people we don’t know. Just remember to share more about yourself than the problem you’re currently dealing with so your positive energy shines through as well.

Clean
Clean your room or bathroom. You could even ask your parents if they need help cleaning the kitchen. Cleaning helps to blow off steam and makes people optimistic because of what they’ve accomplished.

Plan
Instead of worrying about your soccer team’s loss, plan a fun weekend to look forward to. Make plans for friends to come over and watch movies or embark on a mission to visit every ice cream joint in your town.

Honestly, the best thing to do when you’re angry is to keep your thoughts straight. Control yourself long enough so you don’t become part of someone else’s problem.

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