I'm experiencing my first journey into parenting a teenager. I have to be honest, I hate it. The challenge of authority, the mouth, the attitude, all of it drives my absolutely bonkers. I want a law passed that at the age of 12 the children are shipped off to boarding school until they are 25 or 30 which they start to show signs of maturity. And then my daughter makes me feel so wrapped up in love.
She spent two weeks with her grandmother and went here and there with her cousins and aunts. There were shopping trips, art museum, eating out, and entertainment. Coming home was going to be a bore. But while she was gone, the family began to change themselves to get a better attitude and be more fun starting with me and my husband. We began to fall in love again. When she came back, she began to go right back into the attitude until after a few days she noticed the change around her. She couldn't remain surly. We refused to let it take hold of any of us.
Today, I went to a local coffee shop to get more work and have a change of atmosphere. While I was there, my daughter texted me on my phone that she loved me. My teenage daughter said she loved me unsolicited. What had happened!?! I couldn't help but smile real big as tears filled my eyes. There was the same sweet girl I used to cuddle. There was the young woman trying to bloom into her own.
I love my daughter. I could strangle her sometimes, but I love her so much. I cannot wait till the day that I am not Mom, but a close friend who is there for her as she becomes a Mom.
Love you, Catherine. You're my number one.
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