This is Julian
and he is teaching me how to rip my hair out.
Parenting teens
and
learning to let go
is
easy and blisfull.
Not so much.
Why does no one tell you how hard it is?
I question that.
You find volumes of parenting books
from baby to middle school
at the library
but then it just all seems to drop into the deep dark abyss of the unknown
zip.
No field guide for teens.
The oldest and the youngest
it's as if it was yesterday Julian was that little...
The minute I layed eyes on him
was indescribable
pure love
The minute I layed eyes on him
was indescribable
pure love
From sitting on my lap reading books
singing his heart out in the back seat the old Volvo
to " Raffi "
Loving his woobie
playing with legos
hide and seek
and
super hero
He is finding his way...
fast paced
loud
high energy
friends
texting
soccer
music
iPod
skiing
and lets not forget...chicks.
Summer swim lessons in this pool.
Now a lifeguard
here he is teaching the youngest to swim...
Words can not express how proud I am of him
how much he has changed my life
how wonderful, yet challenging it is to be his parent
and the unconditional love I have for him.
He has such a sense of humor
he so knows how to crack me up!
His dedication
talent
and passion for soccer
- it's crazy amazing to watch him play.
I realize how easy the "toddler" days were
Dealing with a tantrum in isle 5 at Grand Union supermarket
(scooping him up and leaving the store)
seemed like a breeze
Dealing with a tantrum in isle 5 at Grand Union supermarket
(scooping him up and leaving the store)
seemed like a breeze
Today it is much of same
just more at a
Voltron Force
just more at a
Voltron Force
One minute
I'm amazing
the next minute
I'm annoying
But that all seems to cancel out out
when he gives me hug and says he loves me...
unprompted
and
for no apparent reason.
Within minutes it is all forgotten like nothing happend.
Bizarre.
Loves his brother
best of friends
worst of friends
Jules...
I am whipped.
You are wonderfully amazing
fabulous
growing up at warped speed
and
exhausting
...and you might need a snickers bar by now.
All I can do is be there for you.
You have my love
and my heart.
....but then again, you already knew that.
I love you
you will always be my super hero
***
It kills you to see them grow up.
But I guess it would kill you quicker if they didn't.
~Barbara Kingsolver, Animal Dreams
oh, you always say it so much better than I. This is what I feel like every single day. I love the quote at the end! Hang in there!
ReplyDeleteIt's past midnight. AGAIN. I'm going back to Gmail. I have tears in my eyes. You are truly amazing Camilla
ReplyDeleteAxx
Wow, that pinched my heart a bit. Wonderfully worded. Amazing to imagine my kids growing up even more. Sweet dreams, mama.
ReplyDeleteLovely post Camilla. It has made me look at my teenager more thoughtfully today and realise how every minute with them is special even if they do drive us crazy. :)
ReplyDeleteWe're on the cusp of teenhood here, and I can see little previews of this. Beautifully-worded. I'm bookmarking for when I need it later :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you.
ReplyDeleteMy eldest is almost 17
I share your emotions
so intensely, at times, I feel like I'll burst
love does that to a mom
Popping over from Ivey's place. This was beautiful! and funny and touching and so right on. Sigh. I have 2 daughters, but I can see those feelings you described translating seamlessly to parenting teenaged girls. Great post.
ReplyDeleteHe sounds like an awesome kid. Having weathered and survived the teen years of my own kids (my youngest, my daughter, being the most challenging here), I have only one piece of advice. It may sound cliche', but it's still prudent. Pick your battles. They're straddling that threshold between being a child one minute, and struggling to establish their young adulthood in the next. They'll swing back and forth so much that it will make you dizzy. Give them some rope...but not so much to hang themselves. Allow them the practice of deciding for themselves those things that won't be earth shattering if they make a wrong chioce, and while they're still in your safety net.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter literally turned me grey haired. She was the MOST challenging personality I'd ever dealt with. Now she's a young adult living her own life, and we have SO much fun together. If you survive their teen years, the payoff is grand! ;-)
camilla. i just discovered your new space here. how new? not sure. but it made me happy. and that was lovely to read. and scary. i don't know how to deal with it getting harder....
ReplyDeletebut you are showing us! at first glance i thought you wrote he is teaching you how to rip your heart out. that was funny. and i related!
alright. i gotta show you something. i've knit up my first two sweaters.
http://lightandmacaroni.blogspot.com/2012/02/opening.html