Young People Up Close

Environment

Apocalypse (Not) Now?

Nick Luxmoore on November 1, 2019

How do we answer when young people ask, "Is the world going to end?"

How do we answer when young people ask, "Is the world going to end?"

When we lie, we regress. But what happens when we can't move out of that regressed state?

Relationships

First Love: Will It Ever Be The Same?

Nick Luxmoore on September 16, 2019

The loss of a first love feels catastrophic, but was it ever really a first love, or were there earlier loves and losses?

The loss of a first love feels catastrophic, but was it ever really a first love, or were there earlier loves and losses?

Forgiveness

Bad Mothers?

Nick Luxmoore on August 1, 2019

If we continue to swing between idealizing and demonizing mothers, we deny them the possibility of ever being good enough.

If we continue to swing between idealizing and demonizing mothers, we deny them the possibility of ever being good enough.

Why do some young people struggle to make friends? Is it because they can't be real? Is it because they struggle with anger?

What happens when we take risks ourselves in order to encourage others to do the same?

Is hard work ever enough? Will planning and persistence pay off? Or is chaos something that we all have to learn to live with?

Without anger, we lose our creativity, determination, resilience, energy. Without it, we become depressed.

Eating Disorders

My Mother The Fridge, My Father The Microwave

Nick Luxmoore on March 1, 2019

Our relationship with food is also about our relationship with dependence and independence, power and powerlessness.

Our relationship with food is also about our relationship with dependence and independence, power and powerlessness.

We do young people no favours if we pretend that the future is always bright. It isn't, and they know that.

Child Development

Is There Such a Thing as "School"?

Nick Luxmoore on January 5, 2019

Perhaps because we project our feelings about our parents onto the institution we call "school," our relationship with that institution easily becomes stuck.

Perhaps because we project our feelings about our parents onto the institution we call "school," our relationship with that institution easily becomes stuck.

We do young people no favors when in our desire to help, we imply that changing their behavior will be a substitute for finding meaning in their lives.

Anger

Who's Persecuting Whom?

Nick Luxmoore on November 16, 2018

Playing the role of perennial victim is a roundabout way of persecuting other people, taking out our anger on them without taking any responsibility for that anger.

Playing the role of perennial victim is a roundabout way of persecuting other people, taking out our anger on them without taking any responsibility for that anger.

Anger

Why Angry Young People Make Great Carers

Nick Luxmoore on October 8, 2018

We get angry because we care, and given the right kind of support, can channel that anger into kindness.

We get angry because we care, and given the right kind of support, can channel that anger into kindness.

Fear

Keeping the Bullies at Bay

Nick Luxmoore on September 1, 2018

Why do children and young people sometimes behave in such unpleasant, out-of-character ways? One way of dealing with a frightening situation or person is to act like that person.

Why do children and young people sometimes behave in such unpleasant, out-of-character ways? One way of dealing with a frightening situation or person is to act like that person.

Happiness

The Importance Of Misery

Nick Luxmoore on August 1, 2018

In our desire to support young people, the danger is that we find ourselves suggesting that everything is OK because all problems can be fixed.

In our desire to support young people, the danger is that we find ourselves suggesting that everything is OK because all problems can be fixed.

Child Development

Burning The Toast

Nick Luxmoore on July 10, 2018

Young people can go forward but they can't go back. They're like refugees, searching for new meaning, for a new purpose, for a new home.

Young people can go forward but they can't go back. They're like refugees, searching for new meaning, for a new purpose, for a new home.

Jealousy

Why Do Boys Demean Girls?

Nick Luxmoore on June 1, 2018

Boys and men may need to disempower other people and triumph over envy in order not to feel inadequate themselves.

Boys and men may need to disempower other people and triumph over envy in order not to feel inadequate themselves.

Embarrassment

You're a Total Mess!

Nick Luxmoore on May 7, 2018

The way parents and parent-figures relate to the idea of 'mess' will have a profound effect upon the children and young people they so want to support.

The way parents and parent-figures relate to the idea of 'mess' will have a profound effect upon the children and young people they so want to support.

Friends

When Nothing Seems To Mean Anything

Nick Luxmoore on April 22, 2018

Like adults, young people are trying to find meaning in their lives. And when they can't find it, they despair.

Like adults, young people are trying to find meaning in their lives. And when they can't find it, they despair.