Sometimes you just gotta write...about teenagers

I've been dying to write...which is ironic because when I was in college I tried to avoid writing at all costs.  Perhaps it was because someone was telling me what I had to write and now I get to write whatever I like. 

I've been dying to write, but mostly I've just been dying.  Between fundraising, Maunia's musical schedule, our drama program and just being the wife and mom, life has been exhausting.  But tonight I decided to heck with it sometimes you just gotta write :-)

Tonight's topic is teenagers...dun dun dun...that topic dreaded by many parents.  I have to say, teenagers get a bad rap! 

Are they loud?...yep,  are they self-centered?...at times...aren't we all?, Are they crazy...most definitely! Are they exhausting...unquestionably!!  BUT they are also fun and energetic, crazy and goofy, creative and smart and they see endless possibilities in their world.  They are enthusiastic about life, like we used to be before life made us tired :-)  They are pretty sure there are at least 90 hours in a day and they can fit in everything they want to...provided their moms shuttle them all over kingdom come and let them sleep until mid-afternoon on Saturdays to make up for it ;-)

I always thought Treg was going to be the one that was better with the teens.  In our early years he always seemed to have the magic touch for communicating with those squirelly 13 year olds or connecting on a deeper level with the older teens, I didn't get them, I liked the babies.  But as we have grown I have to say I rather like the teens.  As a matter of fact, I'm pretty sure I was supposed to be the mother of great masses of them...but that was not in the master plan.  The necessity for in vitro left the final count at 2.  So, I have "adopted" several more.  :-)  I love them like my own (well almost, I still love my own the most <3).  Maybe God knew that I would do well to love, nurture and enjoy them en mass and then still be able to send them home when I get tired :-) 

I am thankful every day for my two amazing teens.  They never cease to astound me.  They are smart and funny, creative and thoughtful, talented and incredible on so many levels.  I can't tell them enough times in a day how much I love them.

We hear so often about the teens that cause trouble, have no ambition, put themselves in dangerous situations and make very bad choices.  As a society I think this is what we have come to expect of teens.  To fear that they are our future.  I have to say, that is not representative of the teens I have the pleasure of knowing.  The kids that hang at my house are funny and kind.  They would do anything for me (they have taken out trash, changed light bulbs, taken down Christmas lights, and pulled weeds just to name a few haha).  They are grateful and polite.  They don't mind having grownups around and "in their business".  They are easy to talk to.  They are all awesome teens!!  It warms my heart to see them come barrelling towards me at school to say Hi and collect hugs.  They don't care about looking cool in front of everyone else and they haven't decided yet that parents have the plague (and most of them are 17 and 18 years old so I'm pretty sure I'm out of the woods on that one).

I feel like someone needs to stick up for the teens.  Let those who fear and dread them know that there are some pretty fabulous teens out there.  Very few moms want their "babies" to grow up, but I can't wait to see what mine turn in to.  To watch them grow into their own person is truly an incredible and humbling experience.  Do I do it all right in raising them...oh heck no...I'll put aside money for their therapy, but I'm pretty sure they still like and respect me, and at almost 16 and almost 14 that's saying something.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not the "best friend" mom that just lets them do whatever they want so they'll like me.  Just ask any of their friends and they'll tell you, I'll let them know what I think haha.  I call it like it is and set them straight for sure, but at the end of the day they know I love them.

So this is a shout out to all my teens.  You are amazing.  You have the world at your feet.  I would be proud to have you in charge of our future.   Thank you for letting me be your "mom". <3