The Blog of P.U.R.E. and Sue Scheff

What happened to that sweet 5 year-old you sent off to Kindergarten?  What happened to that athletic tween that loved T-Ball? What happened to my little angel that loved going to the mall with me? What happened to my child that always worked so hard to get good grades and always worked to make me proud? Where did my kind son go? Where did their childhood go? Today's society is challenging for teenagers - but can be even more distressful for their parents.  When slowly they watch their good child turn into a tween or teen that they barely recognized.  Underneath the questionable clothing, the piercings we had to reluctantly agree to - and the tattoos they got on their own - our child is deep in there somewhere! After exhausting all local resources, whether it is an excellent adolescent therapist to local support groups and even out-patient facilities, you are looking at a teen that is heading down a dark road.  It is time for parents to dig deep and find t...

Breaking a teen down, does it really build them up? It never ceases to amaze me that parents are still asking for boot camps or scared straight programs .  Although they may make an initial effect on your teen, it is rarely, if ever, long lasting.  They are usually considered a band-aid to a wound that will soon be re-opened. Many teens that are acting out in a negative way, are usually crying out for help.  Lack of self-esteem, negative peer group and simply feel like they are not important to anyone. Boot camps and scared straight programs are about breaking your child down - aren't they already there?  In many cases these types of programs can build more anger and resentment which is usually targeted at the parent that sent them there. Finding a program that helps determine where these negative impulses are coming from and helping your teen work through them can be the best way to get back on a positive road. Are you ready to get your teen the help t...

CNN - InSession - TruTV (formerly CourtTV) Today I was on In Session with Ryan Smith. An interesting segment about troubled teens and boot camps. It is also a disturbing trial that is almost incomprehensible.  As a young man is being charged with hiring a hit-man to kill his parents, part of his defense is the horrible time he spent in a specialty program.  This program was actually under the same umbrella of schools and programs that my own daughter attended. Yes, the program in our experience, was extremely abusive - both physically and emotionally.  Did it create someone to actually kill their parents?  I haven't heard of that yet.  I will share with you these types of stories can sometimes deter parents from getting their teens help. P.U.R.E . was created to help educate parents on searching and investigating schools and programs for your teen's individual needs.  We warn you to use caution of slick marketing scams - fancy websites and toll ...

Boot Camps for Troubled Teens Boot Camps for Girls Boot Camps for Boys Boot Camps As a Parent Advocate I am recieve many phones can emails from parents looking to place their struggling teenager into a boot camp. We ( Parents Universal Resource Experts ) never promote, refer or recommend anyone to Boot Camps . We believe in building our teens back up , not breaking them down . Many teens are suffering with low self esteem, which can lead to negative behavior. When you take a negative child and place them into a potentially punitive environment, such as a Boot Camp , you can risk your child returning with more anger and resentment. This anger is usually targeted at the person that placed them there – the parent. We believe in finding healthy, positive, nurturing and safe environments to promote your teen’s self confidence, to make better choices and determine where the negative behavior is stemming from. With this emotional growth, your teen and your family can start healing towards ...