Teaching Your Teen to be Grateful
You never know what you have until you lose it. At Thayer Learning Center teenagers begin to realize how true that statement really is – especially during the holidays. Every year TLC students and parents find the holiday season especially difficult, but ultimately rewarding. For the student at Thayer Learning Center, the holiday season proves to be a very emotional and thought provoking time of year. Students are forced to realize just how much their family means to them and often gain a new appreciation for their parents and siblings. For parents, staying away during the holidays is probably one of the most difficult parts of having a teenager at TLC, but in the end they know they are teaching their teen how to be grateful.
In a world full of instant gratification, gratitude is all but lost – especially for teenagers. Teaching teens to be grateful for their parents, siblings, and lifestyle can be nearly impossible. At Thayer Learning Center, students are taught that their families are sacred. Learning this helps them to understand that having parents who love and provide for them is a privilege and should be treated as such. At TLC, students are called by their last names, their family names, as a constant reminder of their responsibility within their family. Throughout the program students are continually reminded of just how good they have it at home.
At Thayer Learning Center students and parents find it difficult to be separated during the holiday festivities, but find that doing so creates a new appreciation for one another. This much needed “time-out” helps both parties to heal and forget about the past. TLC hopes that the holiday season will truly be a time of change, giving, and joy – knowing that this separation will only bring about a brighter future.