I was browsing the DotMoms site tonight since for the first time in just about forever, I had a little bit of time to play around instead of work. I really like reading the posts over there. It’s like a walk down memory lane to read about the toddlers, babies, even the elementary-age kids. But what seems to be missing there is moms blogging about parenting teenagers.
I love teenagers. Most people shudder when the word “teenager” is mentioned, but I love them. I love them even when they have attitude. I love them most when they’re swaggering and being rowdy. Teenagers have such fresh and sharp senses of humor — they always make me laugh.
Teenagers are wonderful creatures. They are on the cusp of coming into their own, past the first awkward years of self-discovery and slowly gaining footholds of confidence on a daily basis. Preteens, on the other hand, are beasts. I love them too, but find myself counting up the time until they hit those real, honest-to-god teenage years.
The thing I like best about teenagers is that they THINK. They really do. They’re in a part of their lives where they’re defining who they are, what they believe, and beginning to form their core, fundamental value systems. They are not prone to advice but they do occasionally allow themselves to be influenced, provided we’re subtle enough. They are racing toward independence but there’s still a small part of them that wants to be mommied — when they feel like it, of course.
Sticks has developed this wicked sense of humor that just keeps me laughing all the time. I love it when he’s on his game and assailing me with the best Meatwad voice I’ve ever heard. Hearing this voice just demands a smile and a laugh, even when I don’t feel like it.
Many people my age diss these kids and judge them all by what they hear on the evening news. I get to be around lots of teenagers and not one of them comes close to being what we hear about on the evening news. They are irreverent, passionate, smart, savvy kids and I’m confident their generation will do wonderful things if we get out of the way and let them.
Technorati Tags: parenting, teenagers
