Surviving teenagers! 😅
Well, here we are. The days of stepping on Legos and cutting crusts off sandwiches have somehow morphed into late-night talks—or sometimes, late-night silences?—as our once chatty little ones turn into teens who seem to have forgotten how to share their every thought. They still share but I’m not the first they share with anymore. Now, I won’t say it’s always that way, but becoming more frequent. Yep, the 3 oldest daughters have started having Golden Girl round table discussions without me. (Sigh.)
This new season of parenting teens is a transition, to say the least. It’s a time when our feelings often take a beating. Not that they mean to hurt us—no, they’re just trying to figure out this whole ‘feeling’ thing themselves. One minute, they’re open books, telling us every detail we never asked for, and the next, they’re Fort Knox, guarding their emotions like state secrets. We long for the days when they couldn’t wait to tell us about their day, and now, we’d settle for a crumb of information about their lives. It’s hard not to take it personally when they clam up or give us attitude, but deep down, we know it’s just part of their growing pains.
As parents, all we want is the best for them. We want them to make wise choices, to be happy, to know they’re loved beyond measure. But here’s the kicker: they don’t always see it that way. They think we’re just being overprotective or out of touch, when really, we’re just trying to keep them from making the same mistakes we did. And in the middle of it all, there’s this realization that sneaks up on us—HOLY CRAP, our moms were right all along! The things we used to roll our eyes at, the advice we swore we’d never repeat… suddenly, they’re coming out of our mouths. We’re turning into our parents, and isn’t that just the most beautiful, terrifying thing?
Parenting is a vicious cycle, but it’s also a beautiful one. It’s in these moments of frustration and heartache that we see God’s hand at work. He’s refining us, teaching us patience, compassion, and a deeper love that only grows stronger with each challenge. We’re not just raising kids; we’re raising future adults who will one day look back and (hopefully) realize that we were right all along too.
And just when you think you’re going to lose your mind, God throws in a little humor to keep you going. Like the time your teen, in a rare moment of vulnerability, says something that reminds you so much of your younger self that you can’t help but laugh. Or when they throw a tantrum, and you suddenly see a mini version of you staring back, and you think, “Yep, this is payback.”
So, to all the parents out there in the trenches of teenagehood, keep the faith. You’re doing better than you think. And remember, one day, they’ll be in your shoes, realizing you were right all along. Until then, let’s just keep laughing through the chaos, trusting God’s plan, and maybe, just maybe, calling our moms to say, “You were right.”
And isn’t that the sweetest revenge of all? 😉
