POOR RICH KIDS
A suicide attempt history. Young
people often succeed in committing
suicide the second time around. It is
therefore vital not to underplay the
first attempt. Statistics show that
second attempts are made on the
100th to 120th day. Extreme vigi-
lance must therefore be maintained
throughout the year.
CROSSING THE MINEFIELD
H
ow should we act if we no-
tice these kind of signals?
There is no universal recipe
and there can’t be one. It all depends
on the situation, your relations with
the child and should be handled
very delicately. Find a way of having
All our child wants is to make sure that
he is loved unconditionally — in spite
of his school results, provocative be-
haviour or pimpled face.
Suicides among acquaintances
or in the media. According to sta-
tistics, 90% of those who commit-
ted suicide knew somebody who
had done or attempted it before. If
a classmate commits suicide, be ex-
tremely vigilant with respect to your
children. a discreet conversation. In case
of doubt, seek advice from a
specialist.
Self-destruction. Racing cars or
encouraging you to do so. The risk
of getting into an accident is excit-
ing, not scary. Taking to drink, drugs,
mixed substances. Taking part in
fights and dangerous conflicts. A teenager has a distinct
need to love, to be loved
and feel part of some-
thing bigger than himself.
Surround him with love and
attention. This does not mean
stop educating him or taking
away all responsibilities. We still
need to set boundaries, help him
find his bearings in life, teach
him how to behave in certain
situations.
Without being paranoid, parents
should be vigilant with respect to
these kind of signs. They are quite
alarming and reveal a deep inner
discord.
Our strategy should be
based on «three golden
rules» — love, boundaries
and freedom.
But we should also give him freedom
within the well-established bounda-
ries. Don’t nag him for dyed hair or a
scruffy look. Everything is all right as
long as it is not life threatening.
Do know what is going on with your
child, how pleased he is with his
friends, personal life, what really wor-
ries him.
The stage of being a teenager just
can’t be skipped. This is a test for chil-
dren and parents alike. Our responsi-
bility is to make sure it goes smoothly.
We may not agree with him and limit
him in his actions. But at the end of the
day, he must know that we treasure
him no matter what. Family should be
his first reference in case of any doubt.
We are always there.
Hello Monaco Winter 2019–2020 / 173
www.hellomonaco.com