Just when I think I have seen it all with my three kids, they throw me for a loop. I know that one of the fun things about kids and teenagers, in particular, is that they are forever coming up with new phases and philosophies to try out on their road to adulthood and their own unique version of independence. Just when I thought I had seen just about every version of teenage identity experimentation, my youngest has decided this summer to change his life style–he is now on a health and exercise “regime”…
As many of you know, part of the challenge of dealing with our teens’ identity experiments is that they become incredibly self-righteous about everything. It is as though they are the first person ever to discover that drinking 8 glasses of water is a good thing. Suddenly, they are critiquing everyone and sharing newly-discovered knowledge as if we have all just been waiting for a fifteen-year-old to come along and show us the light!
So, gone are the soda and candy and junk food for my son and each meal is an evaluation of nutrition–is it organic? Do I really need to use all that butter/oil/sugar or whatever when I cook? Don’t I realize that herbal ice tea is far better for a person than soda or Kool-aid? Don’t I understand how much better I would feel if I went out for a long bike ride after dinner too?
Never mind that I have been trying to impart a little nutrition and health wisdom over the years and it has felt like an uphill battle to get my kids to eat decently. Now that he has discovered health and exercise on his own, he is convinced I am trying to poison him with my unhealthy ways and fat-infested cooking. We’ll see how long it lasts. It would surely be fabulous if he makes healthy choices a way of living from here on out, but I’ve seen enough teenage phases and philosophies come and go by now to know I shouldn’t be holding my breath…
Also: When do I Get To Be Smarter Again?
Summer is the Start of the Sugar Wars
Setting Good Health Examples for Our Kids