Movie Review: Speak

Speak is a 2004 movie based on the teen fiction novel by the same name, written by Laurie Halse Anderson. This is not your average teeny bop movie. In fact, it may be something that some teens aren't ready to view. From a parent's point of view it reveals what a tragedy it is to lose communication with your teen.

For me this is a good reminder to foster communication with my young children on every topic so that someday we can have more mature conversations about the intimate and sometimes uncomfortable topics that come with growing up. But more importantly, kids may be screaming for our attention without ever opening their mouths and noticing changes in their behavior is part of my job description and can be costly if unnoticed. Even completely trustworthy teens who normally make good choices, will be put into situations that they either feel pressured to go along with the group or that they simply cannot control.

This movie also reminds me that the motive behind an action may not be what you think. I am guilty of judging people based on the action that I see without keeping an open mind regarding why they are doing something. Shouldn't we try and think the best not the worst about our peers i.e. the Golden Rule? I came away from this thinking about how my judgemental actions could have hurt someone in my past and how to refrain from doing this in future.

Speak is a must see or read for any parent of a teen. But also for those of us with younger children looking forward to all of those super fun teen years! Although not a movie that is going to make you jump for joy, it does have a breakthrough ending that warms a parents heart.

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