Teenagers Around

As a father of a teenage son and an almost teenage daughter, I have been through many stages of life up to this point. I welcomed them into this world in the delivery room when they were born. I rocked them back and forth and drove on endless back roads when they were infants trying to nap. I fed them, changed their diapers, watched them take their first steps. I played on the floor with them, threw them up in the air to catch them on the way back down. I’ve introduced them to nature, to books, simple pleasures and I watched them splash through mud puddles and run through big piles of leaves. I’ve witnessed their growth as human beings; physically, emotionally, and mentally. And while every stage has had its challenges, the teenage years being no exception, I must say that this may be my favorite stage yet.

Now, as they begin to figure out who they are as individuals in a community of people, they are beginning to branch out, flourish, and find their way in the world. They both are still avid readers of books and love being outside playing in the yard. They are navigating friendships, increased responsibility in school, and learning how to interact with adults. This is truly a fascinating time. While always a parent, I feel a part of me has taken on the role of life coach; offering words of advice, being an ear for them vent to, a shoulder to cry on, a wrestling partner, a guide. While I know it will change, I cherish the moments when they ask me to go play with them outside, not needing me to tone it down like they did when they were younger. They are getting taller and wiser and all the hard work that my wife and I put in when they were younger is starting to show the fruits of our labor. Its a fulfilling and satisfying feeling seeing where they have come from and where they are going.

The world is at their fingertips, ready for them to grab a hold and fly free. There is still time left before they spread their wings and fly, but I see them looking out over the edge of the nest, preening their feathers, and getting themselves ready. For now, we continue the hard work of still remaining parents, still laying down the law when need by, but now lacing it with sarcasm and more mature humor that they can understand. They make me laugh almost every day and they are one of the main reasons I make sure I get home early every day to spend time with them. We never know how long we will have, what tomorrow will bring, so I do my best to live in the present, deal with whatever comes my way and try not to fret about what’s coming in the future. Life is full of surprises, but the best present we can ever get is the day we are living in right now. I only hope that I can convey that to my children, that they can come to live in the moment and not worry about the past or the future. Its one thing to plan for the future, its another to worry about how things will turn out. My life has been full of surprises, including the gender of my children at birth, but at every one, I’ve welcomed them with open arms and an open mind. So as the years tic on by with my teenagers around, I’ll cherish every stage and moment that comes my way. If you have children, what was your favourite stage?