Your teenager will end up feeling unfulfilled if the goals he or she is working towards are not actually meaningful.  We expend a lot of energy working on goals that prove to ourselves we rank higher than others.  We seek to have more money, drive a nicer car, etc.  There isn’t anything wrong with nice stuff at all, but have it for the right reasons.  Similarly, there isn’t anything wrong with a teen wanting to be a valedictorian, but let’s pursue that for a love of learning rather than simply to say we’re number 1.

Helping teens grow and families improve connection,

Lauren Goodman, MS, MFT