Push and Pull by Monica Brancheau
W
hen my children were babies, I thought that was one of the hardest and most joyful experiences I’ve ever had. When my children were toddlers, I thought that was one of the most nail-biting and adventurous experiences I’ve ever had. When my children were elementary-school-age, I thought that was one of the busiest and most fun experiences I’ve ever had. Then…something happened. Nobody talks about it, nobody warns you about it, no one posts about it. You learn about it on your own because it hits you like a ton of bricks. Children suddenly become mini-adults trapped in ever-changing hormonal bodies. They attempt to navigate the world and be cool, yet they still enjoy the comforts of a home-cooked meal and folded laundry. Teenagers!! I have lived/am living through four of them, and it’s one of the hardest and most exhausting experiences I’ve ever had.
26 | The Brick Magazine
New babies and toddlers are a piece of cake in comparison. During this time of the Wordle Craze, let’s use an acrostic to examine what it’s like to be a parent of a teenager.
T eachable. There are many people in your children’s
lives who are going to be teaching them things — good and bad. Teachers, parents, coaches, friends, social media, the internet — their sphere of influence has quadrupled now. Yet, somewhere in all of the noise of information, it’s more important than ever to have teachable moments with your teens.
E
ager. Teens are eager to be accepted by their
peers, eager to fit in. Fitting in often means getting their first phone, their first Instagram account, their first middle school dance, their first kiss, their first boyfriend or girlfriend, their first time confiding in their friends instead of you. Just be present for when those moments happen.
