BEND, OR -- A Bend-based nonprofit hopes to help open the lines of communication between parents and teens, to keep everyone safe from domestic violence. February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.
Saving Grace's Erin Rook says talking about healthy relationships is key, "Because we do get all these messages, adults as well as young people, about what's romantic. Do you chase after that person on their way to the airport to marry someone else to confess your undying love? Do you like every single thing they ever post on instagram because you feel like you're supposed to give that validation or something? And so, yes, these conversations are important."
Two workshops will be offered Wednesday night at Bend Senior High: "Let's Talk About It: Teens + Dating," geared toward adults, and "Let's Talk About It: #RelationshipGoals," for teens. "One of those will be focused on how to talk to your kids about relationships, because that's an awkward conversation to have with kids a lot of times," says Rook "We'll also be having a workshop at the same time about teaching kids to understand what they want out of a relationship. Because I think sometimes, we also tell people, 'Oh, someone is pursuing you real hard, and that means they really like you, and you should be flattered'."
