Teenagers want Independence

This is the Webster’s Dictionary definition of “teenage”. To those of us who have been teenagers or are parenting teenagers it means so much more.  

When you were a teenager you were fighting for independence. Your parents kept reminding you that you would be an adult soon and on your own so you better get your act together, but they were scared to give you too much responsibility and control because you might mess up your life.

As a parent of one and now two teenagers I can see things from the other side. I am scared that I might have done something wrong while raising them and they will turn out to be huge failures and there is no time left to go back and fix them. I am excited because I see the rare moments of responsibility shine through and I have hope that they will grow up to be everything I have always dreamed they would become. I feel powerless because they are developing their own minds and world views and sometimes they are completely alien to what I have taught them. I am relieved because soon it will be all over, win lose or draw they will become adults and begin to be responsible for themselves and I will pass on to the next phase of my life.

Mothering two teenage daughters means a variety of adventures for me; 2 young ladies with their own range of mood swings to match mine, 2 extra people using my lady products or should I say using up and then not telling me that they are gone so when I go to reach for them I come up empty handed. 2 extra people to buy $45.00 bras for so now that means I have to sacrifice my shopping experiences. 2 extra people to get jeans and new shoes for, once again sacrifice. 2 people using my razor so when I go to reach for the razor it is gone or dull. The combs, brushes, hair oil ect all used up or missing. Now of course Dad says buy them their own and they won’t use yours and maybe some of you are thinking that as well. That doesn’t work they use or lose theirs and then come hunting for mine.

In this blog I will share some of my experiences raising my teenagers. You will also see my frustrations, my successes, my failures and my triumphs. If you have questions, suggestions or comments please share them. You will also from time to time see guest blogs from teens, mothers of boy teenagers, dads, parents who have already raised teens and others. I hope you find taking this journey with me exciting and informative.