reflections

17 years ago I was a teenager, a sophomore. I know exactly how many years ago, because I can measure the time by the age of my son. I decided I had found the person I wanted as my spouse, and I wanted a kid while I was young. I wanted to be able to remember what being a teenager was like, when my kid was one so I could relate.

As my classmates where fitted for formals I was being fitted for my wedding dress. The next fall as my friends got ready for homecoming, I prepared for a homecoming of my own. They decorated the gym for dances, I decorated the nursery.

Now my children are teenagers, do I remember what it was like? yes. Does it help me relate to them? HEll NO.

People who say they never want to live high school over, are either liars or not parents of teens. I tell you no lie my friend, I would rather be the teen than the parent.

I'm sure people tried to warn me. To tell me that as you get older your way of thinking changes. So you may remember being a teen, but you won't, can not, think like a teen. No matter how hard you try. Your parent brain over rides the teen brain. Causing fights, and power plays and the temptation to throw in the towel and quit can be over whelming. But I didn't listen, because I was a teen.