Request to All Parents/Guardians

This is random, but parents/guardians: 

Please, please, please believe your kids. 

I know, okay? Kids lie to get out of things. Kids lie for fun. Kids lie because theyre dumb half the time. And dealing w that and trying not to encourage it is exhausting. I know. 

But I am *so tired* of seeing parents assume their kid is lying or exaggerating about some issue when its 100% real. Even with teenagers, or maybe especially, i dont know. It happens all the time: with me, with cousins, with friends, with random teens: the same story. 

A cousin of mine had to spend weeks convincing his parents to take them to the doctor. Ended up getting several operations.

I spent three years pushing to get an eye test. These are only 2 examples from many more. 

Yes, your kid might be lying. Yes, your kid might be panicking about something small. But you should not be an obstacle your kid has to fight to get the help they need. 

Give them the benefit of the doubt. Please. Even if theyre lying, they will always remember that you believed and trusted them.