I heard this song the other day, as instantly, I thought of our oldest daughter. Calyn turns 13 next week. Yes. A teenager. Yes. Next week. Yes. This mom is having a hard time believing she is going to be a mom of a teenager. (Side note: I should be well practiced in this, as Add thinks she is 8 going on 16.)
In August, when she started seventh grade I was just excited, she was now going to be in the same school building as me. Now, that April is around the corner, I cannot but think 13, wow, TEEN. The word teen, means 15 (high school), 16 (driving), 18 (leaving for college), are actually closer than they were yesterday. With all this going through my mind, tears welling up in my eyes, I realized she has approximately 1,975 (ok...exactly) days left in our house before we let her go on an adventure in this big world on her own.
I feel like I am doing this parenting thing all over again. You know with that first born, you read all the parenting books, follow the rules of the when to introduce food and what foods to introduce first, when to give them whole milk and not formula, and the list goes on and on. I even protected her from the mud and rain puddles...because I didn’t want her to get dirty! I have said this before, if I could be granted a do over in the parenting department, I would definitely do over those early years of Calyn’s life.
So what does this mom of a teenager really need to know? I don’t know yet. However, this first-time teenage mom, will not have a pile of books on how to raise a teenager near by bedside (not saying I won’t ready any). This mom is going to keep teaching and parenting, the way I know best...providing her with a faith-filled home, boundaries, being present, and a constant support of encouragement. So with all the “teenage things” that will come our way, Galatians 5:22, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness...", will be posted everywhere, with an emphasis on patience and kindness.
The teenage years are upon this mom, whether I am ready or not, however each day we can measure our time together with love. And this is the best modeling I can do, not only for Calyn, but also to Addi and Zephyr. Being Kind. Serving Others. And Loving Others.
In August, when she started seventh grade I was just excited, she was now going to be in the same school building as me. Now, that April is around the corner, I cannot but think 13, wow, TEEN. The word teen, means 15 (high school), 16 (driving), 18 (leaving for college), are actually closer than they were yesterday. With all this going through my mind, tears welling up in my eyes, I realized she has approximately 1,975 (ok...exactly) days left in our house before we let her go on an adventure in this big world on her own.
I feel like I am doing this parenting thing all over again. You know with that first born, you read all the parenting books, follow the rules of the when to introduce food and what foods to introduce first, when to give them whole milk and not formula, and the list goes on and on. I even protected her from the mud and rain puddles...because I didn’t want her to get dirty! I have said this before, if I could be granted a do over in the parenting department, I would definitely do over those early years of Calyn’s life.
So what does this mom of a teenager really need to know? I don’t know yet. However, this first-time teenage mom, will not have a pile of books on how to raise a teenager near by bedside (not saying I won’t ready any). This mom is going to keep teaching and parenting, the way I know best...providing her with a faith-filled home, boundaries, being present, and a constant support of encouragement. So with all the “teenage things” that will come our way, Galatians 5:22, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness...", will be posted everywhere, with an emphasis on patience and kindness.
The teenage years are upon this mom, whether I am ready or not, however each day we can measure our time together with love. And this is the best modeling I can do, not only for Calyn, but also to Addi and Zephyr. Being Kind. Serving Others. And Loving Others.