When I speak to teenagers, I talk about the “3 Mean Things” that the kids should know. They should hear these from me since these things coming from a loved one, may be too shocking. If your child doesn’t know these, you teach these. The sooner they know and accept the “3 Mean Things” the better off they will be in life. Here they are:

1.No one owes you a thing. Not your mother, not your girlfriend, not the world. It’s up to you.
2.Not everyone is going to like you.Yep, it’s true even though you are SO likeable. You like you— that’s all that matters.
3.Many things won’t work out. It’s nothing personal– it just is. You may not get into that school you wanted, or get that job, or that girl you think you love. Keep trying however on all accounts and some things WILL work out. Just keep trying.

That’s it— 3 Mean Things. Now that wasn’t so bad huh.