Teenagers get a bad rap.
Frequently, when I complain about the challenges of raising three young boys, people chuckle, “Just wait until they’re teenagers.” And while I do expect the challenges to be different, and my grocery bill to be higher, I also look forward to watching my boys grow and become…whatever they’re going to become.
I was touched this morning when I read this piece in the Chicago Tribune, about a beautiful young woman who has down syndrome, crowned homecoming queen at her public high school.
For all we hear about reckless, superficial teens, it’s refreshing to read about a group of teenagers who seem to be getting so much right. And as a Mom of young boys, I’m encouraged. It is possible to raise thoughtful, caring, intelligent people in today’s world. It is possible.
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Who is this woman?
- Llama Momma
- My name is Robyn Whitlock, and I'm a work-at-home mom to three boys. I enjoy writing, reading, and cooking, not necessarily in that order. I hate doing laundry, which is unfortunate since I do a lot of it!! Oh, and I recently bought a llama with a few girlfriends. He lives in Ecuador with a family who finds him useful in their day-to-day lives. I'm still his momma, though.
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10 comments:
Llama Momma!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you for speaking up for teenagers!!! Boy did you push a hot button with me.
I have a 19-year-old girl and a 17 year old boy and they, and their many friends are some of my favorite people on the planet!
The teenagers I know, (and working at school and church in a small town, I know a LOT of them,) are funny, talented, creative, optomistic and kind-hearted. (Yes! Christians and non-Christians alike!)
We've spent many evenings with other people's kids after their parents made it clear they "couldn't deal with having a houseful of teenagers." Those parents may have kept their houses clean and quiet, but in getting to know their kids we definitely got the better end of the deal!
I remember hearing the same dire warnings about adolescence when my kids were little. Yet, somehow they never turned into the monsters everyone predicted they would.
The truth is, the issues they have now are pretty much the same ones they had when they were two and three. We all struggle with certain things that we need to learn to give up to God. I don't think that is about age, I think that is about sin.
I honestly don't know if I can raise thoughtful, caring, intelligent people in today's world, but I believe God can. I see him do it all the time :)
Thanks for chiming in with your experience, Marmot Mom! Great thoughts. :-)
My husband and I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop with our teenaged boys. We had heard so much about the terrible teen years. And surprise, surprise, the other shoe never did drop. Our teenage young men were totally awesome. They didn't rebel, they respected our rules . . . God is amazing! All this to say, don't grow discouraged or afraid. You may be extra-specially blessed with fantastic teenagers who will blow you away with their kindness, their gifts, their walks with God . . . :)
Teens are my passion. And as Mom of 3 teens and another upcoming one (plus two who have already passed back out of the teen years), let me tell you that what you put into them is what comes out of them. If you give them love, respect and friendship, that is what they will give you in return. My children are my best, best friends, and they feel the same way about me. They are the best part of my world.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts! More people need to think the way you do.
Martie
Mom to 9
Im taking notes...my boys are only 6, 6 and 3, but we'll be there soon enough. But I know for sure I want them all hanging out at OUR house. I'll bake cookies until 2 a.m. if it keeps them around and talking.
Always good to find another blogging MOPS mama.
It IS refreshing! And thank you, also, to Martie, for her encouraging words to the rest of us. Here's to our kids' futures.
Thank you! I really look forward to getting to know the people my little guy and gal become... and I sure hope it's possible to raise thoughtful, intelligent teens. The future of the country's counting on it, right?
I appreciate hearing your positive attitude toward the teenage years. Hearing those dire warnings (which somehow people go out of their way to REALLY emphasize to me as the mom of 3 girls) is one of my pet peeves. I have never thought that way, nor do I ever want to. It smacks of self-fulfilling prophecy. I plan to enjoy of my girls all through their lives. And I appreciate the wisdom Marmot Mom shares about the issues being the same no matter the age. Sure, rearing good kids is a struggle in our society. And I'm up for the challenge!
Good story on the teens at Libertyville. That is the community right next to where we will be moving next year. Heartening to see such a story.
Came over from the article you wrote on the MOPS website, that I read about in the BlogHerAds newsletter, was also linked by a friend's blog.
Great article, great blog.
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