From the book: HELP my kids are hurting

The deepest hurts most kids feel is relational

Neither the chaos of adolescent transitions nor the bizarre circumstances in which kids often find themselves are what wounds kids the most. No, the deepest wounds happen when the people they count on fail to honor that extended trust. When a person who is supposed to provide safety and support walks away and leaves kids on their own, they feel most deeply hurt. We are talking about abandonment—relational, emotional, and at times even physical abandonment. This generation has been left to care for itself. Unfortunately, the deepest betrayal of trust kids experience is often family based. And even more upsetting, in too many cases a kid loses his relationship with his dad. Kids need people in their lives whom they can count on—no matter what. In the absence of trustworthy people, they’re often left to do whatever they must in order to survive. That can lead to all kinds of destructive and dangerous choices.