#1068: Big Deal

To him, it is a big deal.

When your teenage son faces rejection or embarrassment, your first instinct may be to say,  “Son, in the scheme of things, this is not a big deal.”

But that might not be the best approach. Through MRI scans of teenage brains, psychologists have actually found that a teen’s amygdala– the part of the brain that senses negative emotions– is much more reactive than a child’s brain or an adult’s brain.

So instead of telling your son to stop worrying, empathize. Recall a similar situation you’ve been in and how it made you feel. Suggest he does something like working on his car or walking his dog. Help him find healthy coping mechanisms, and he’ll start to learn how to better handle negative experiences.

For more ideas on raising boys to be godly men, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.