Time to Talk with your Teenager

In our many, many drives back and forth to DD rehearsals, we have had many conversations. Lately, however, we have been listening to a book on tape. I had recommended that she should read The Shack, but given the tons of books that she reads, she has not had time, so the other day she took it out on tape. So each night, we have been listening eagerly. And then we started talking again, she has so much to stay that we are stuck in The Shack unable to move forward because we’ve been chatting so much. But I sure will never complain about her talking too much (ok, maybe sometimes – but I think you mom’s know what I mean).

Last night’s conversation was one that every parent would love to hear from the child, but I was lucky enough to get it. She began talking about how a friend of hers confided in her that she hated her mother. She let me know that she had counseled the girl to be careful about the words she used and that she should really think about why she thinks that. The girl told her how much cooler everyone else’s mom is. DD responded, “I’ve thought about this a lot, and, you know how your parents sometimes tell you how perfect some other child is or that you should be more like so and so? Well it’s the same thing. They don’t see those children when they are misbehaving and we don’t see those other parents when they are having mental breakdowns. Sometimes we don’t see how cool our own parent’s are. . .” She went on and on but I think I stopped listening. She understood. I think I was in my 20’s when I got this. . . Maybe we will find our way through these teenage years yet.

BTW, I think this conversation had some implication that I may have a few cool genes. It may take us a lot longer to finish The Shack than I expected, but I’m ok with that.

by,
MOM