High school.
How did we get here so fast?
Parent orientation …. sigh.
Feeling all of the feels.
A little bit of yay us!
A big ole batch of tears (keeping those contained).
And a overwhelming amount of holy shit.
The beginning of the end.
Or at least the beginning of the end of this chapter.
Please fasten your seat belts kids. Remain seated with arms, hands, legs and feet inside the vehicle at all times.
Enjoy the ride!
It started with a small bowl of potato chips.
But it quickly became a knock down drag it out with the teenager.
Of course, as with everything else in life with a teenager, it was about so much more than that. And so much less.
The boy was unyielding. Relentless in his defiance, defending and excuses.
He was utterly disrespectful and bordering on rude. Henry talked to him. I talked to him.
The boy didn’t budge.
We even went to bed frustrated and without any pleasantries. It was truly one of those fine mom moments.
And then this morning, like a miracle, he got up and I happened to be in the laundry room right outside his door. Without hesitation, he came and gave me a hug, apologized for being so terrible, and told me he loves me.
Say what?!?
Let me restate that – he apologized for being terrible. And he gave me a hug!
This from the child who, in the course of his life, has rarely apologized for anything. Ever.
And unsolicited displays of affection? Let me reiterate that he is a teenager. And a he.
We are not the worst parents ever. (Yet.)
Maybe we are doing something right.
I won’t get ahead of myself, but it is nice to know that as he seemingly grows inches every day, his voice continues to sound more goose-like and less little-boy-like, and the hair on his face thickens, he is maturing in other ways too.
And maybe, just maybe we’re doing something right.
There is hope for us all yet.
Phew!
I think I’ll reward myself with a bowl of potato chips 🙂
Another one in the books – and despite George Michael’s passing (you still gotta have faith …) , it was fantastic! Happy holidays from the Becker brood 🙂
Well … mostly anyway. Two of the three minions have been mostly unbearable the last few days as we have attempted to adjust their clocks a bit before leaving.
Staying up late and yet still (STILL!) getting up at the same time.
Save me.
Here’s hoping that this insanely long day of travel that we have ahead jump starts them into sleeping until at least 6AM local time tomorrow. That would be 2 hours later than they have been sleeping.
Seattle and Alaska – here we come! Hope you’re ready for the hurricane that’s coming your way.
We’re headed to Seattle and a week-long cruise to Alaska on Tuesday. But not before we clean the ENTIRE house.
My kids love this part of vacation. You see, I have a thing about a clean house and vacation. It must be clean before we go. And not just sort of or mostly clean.
Impeccable.
Spotless.
Immaculate.
Unbelievable.
That cleaning day was today. It has been a such joy to cherish all of the wonderfulness that these boys have embodied while cleaning their rooms, and the bathrooms, and the basement, and the kitchen.
Wait! That was how I imagined it this morning. Now that it’s (mostly) over, I’ll save you the ugly details and leave you with the dab.