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Debra Burns Founder of Bloom Author. Speaker. Podcast Host
About the Book
The Purpose
This generation does not have a safe place to deal with their parents’ divorce and the emotional pain it causes. Some parents don’t want anyone to know of the personal struggle at home and warn their kids not to tell anyone. This leaves teenagers on their own to figure out how to deal with the emotions that come from their family breaking up. If they confide in a friend, they are met with the apathetic response to “just get over it and accept it.”
Few books specifically address the millions of teenagers who don’t value the institute of marriage because they fear the pain of their own divorce in the future. They would prefer to never marry at all then put themselves through the pain of divorce. This book covers love, dating, relationships and even talks about what a healthy marriage looks like. The goal is to break the cycle of divorce in this generation.
Who Needs this Book?
Statistics show in the U.S., 50% percent of first marriages, 67% of second, and 74% of third marriages end in divorce. Parents with teenagers 13-19 years old would benefit from using this workbook as a tool to help process the feelings that come up, learn how to communicate, and how to develop healthy relationships in the family and with others.
Anyone involved in the development of teenagers will appreciate the practical and insightful topics this resource provides. For example, middle and high school counselors, teachers, spiritual mentors, youth pastors, and family members. This can be used as a support group or small group study in a variety of venues.
How to use this workbook
You may choose to use this workbook for your own personal study or with a family member. It also works well in small group settings led by a counselor, teacher, mentor, youth pastor, or other adults. Plan on 60-90 minutes for your group to meet.
This workbook includes principles offered to students struggling with the impact of divorce. Introduce each chapter according to the needs of the students, not necessarily in the order given. Provided are suggestions to keep your group engaged and interacting with bonus material at the end of each chapter to enhance your study.
After the first week, you may want to begin the meeting with each member sharing the high or low from their week to build rapport and trust within the group, then ask a review question from the previous chapter. At the end of each meeting, leave time for sharing and recording prayer requests and praises. The suggested prayer provided in each chapter can help students learn how to pray.
Testimonials
Matt, 13
“I’ve learned that anger will eat you alive and that forgiveness will set you free. You have to be able to accept people for what they have done.”
Jake, 17
“I’ve learned how to deal with my feelings in a good way. I will be more conscious of how I act and what I say, as well as my outlook towards divorce. This class resolved some unfinished business with my feelings and now I can sleep better at night. This class has surpassed my expectations.”
Samantha, 17
“I learned to give all my emotions to God. Now I turn to God with every problem.” ~ Samantha, 13
Brittany, 16
“When I get marriage, divorce is not an option. I don’t want to put my future kid in a situation I had to live in.”
Derrick, 15
“I learned that I can’t change what happened in the past, but I can give my family a better life in the future.”
A few more . . .
“Don’t isolate yourself, hang out with friends and people that love God. Know that many others deal with it too.” ~ Erin, 17
“You can maintain a healthy relationship with each of your parents, even if they can’t maintain one with each other.” ~ Jasmine, 18
“That marriage is one of the best gifts God gives us, and to not let parents’ divorce affect their own views on marriage.” ~ Brody, 14