From the time I enrolled my daughter in elementary school it seemed that the world was out to ruin her innocence. Her know-it-all six year old friends with older brothers and sisters shared the world's reality with her on a daily basis.
Unfortunately, that age of innocence doesn't last long enough. Whether we like it or not, reality plops itself on the sofa in our living room and sits there while our children struggle through adolescence.
About the time that we're able to find some common ground, they're talking to us about claiming their independence and graduating from high school.
Seriously, peer influence can be a constant source of challenge, growth, and heated conversations in homes across America. In addition to marketing messages that conflict with our parenting goals, our teenagers are heavily influenced by their friends. Therefore, it's imperative that we do what we can to guide and protect them.
