Since I was on vacation this week I was able to enjoy lunch at a restaurant with a couple of friends. We all have teenagers and needless to say, that was the main topic of conversation.
At one point I sighed and lamented how much I miss their younger years. My friends agreed and we began to reminisce about things from the past. I especially remembered the way my now 6th grade son used to dress up in my daughter’s clothes when he was a toddler and prance around. Now he has girls chasing him like crazy.
I remembered my 8th grade daughter snuggling with my husband and me on the couch when she was a little girl. Now she spends more time in her bedroom. And I remembered my 11th grader playing with his matchbox cars on the floor. Now he is preparing to get his driver’s license.
It’s not just about the fact that time goes by so fast, which it does. It is how differently our children become as they grow into teenagers.
I felt a bit of relief, however, when I was watching an episode of “Sarah Palin’s Alaska” on TLC. Sarah Palin had kind of a sigh in her voice as she talked about the challenges of raising teenagers, in particular her 16-year-old, Willow. I knew I wasn’t alone.
Sitting with my friends at lunch this week I also knew I wasn’t alone. I think we need that as parents of teens. Sometimes you can feel so alone and wonder if you are the only one with teens that slam doors, roll their eyes or talk back.
Life has been a challenge around this household with two in middle school and one in high school. But just as those days of old sped by, so will these and I imagine that one day I will be having lunch with my friends and reminiscing about the teenage years. At least that’s what I try to tell myself.
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