The Lost Years

I have come to the realization that as far as parenting goes I have entered the "Lost Years". You know the years between say, 15-24 when your children decide to become themselves. They constantly test the boundaries of your sanity, wreak havoc on your life as they weave and bob and sometimes stumble into adulthood.

Recent conversations bring back memories of my own teenage years. I distinctly recall comments from my parents like, "You're not going to wear that are you"? and "How can you listen to that noise".

My kids have grown up with laptops, myspace, ipods and cell phones, not even invented in the days of my youth. Sometimes I think they speak a different language, our worlds can seem so far apart. I try not to over analyze. I try to keep the parenting mantra in my head, "This too shall pass" and I try to understand their world.

It is a wonderfully scary time and it makes me feel the generations that separate us. I know I was a scary teenager too, so I am confident that my two teenagers can get through these years and come out as well adjusted, personable adults.