Teens and Dating Violence

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, twenty six percent of women say they experienced some form of teen dating violence before they reached the age of eighteen. Sadly, most parents might hear this statistic, but wind up believing that dating violence only occurs with other people’s kids. Don’t be fooled. Dating violence can happen to anybody in any relationship. As parents, we must help our kids understand what a healthy relationship looks like, along with warning them about the kind of dating behaviors that signal trouble. We must also let them know that they have the freedom to come to us to report any concerns, knowing that we will protect them from harm and provide for their well-being. In addition, we must teach our kids how to treat others with God-honoring dignity and respect. They must learn that every human being is a divine image bearer marked by value and worth. Any sort of verbal or physical abuse that disrespects the other, is wrong.