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I've had some interesting conversations with fellow parents of teenagers, especially those in their senior year of high school. We've decided that we may be the WORST parents in the WORLD, but then again, maybe it's just the stress as we consider that our children are graduating. In a few months. Oh. No....
We've talked about the stress the kids are under:
sports,
academic,
social,
WHERE DO YOU WANT TO GO TO COLLEGE,
peer pressure,
HURRY & CHOOSE WHAT YOU WILL DO FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE,
social media,
fashion,
DID YOU CHOOSE YET?
Wow.
I don't envy any of these kids.
Some of the kids are "push" kids... these kids just need a little push to get their motors started and rolling down the right path. Other kids (like some of this year's seniors) are "pull" kids. The kids who we have pullllllled through homework and social skills and making good choices and helping them develop their lacking executive functioning skills.
Ugh. I'm tired.
It's time, fellow parents of HS seniors. Let us release the ropes of parenting (or in my case, cut the enabling cord) and let our kids FALL. We've done it before. Remember when they were learning to toddle around the house? We let them! We were there to pick them up, kiss the scrapes and help them move on. We can do it again. Really.
Well, we can at least try.
We can be there for each other when the stress gets to be too much. We may even laugh about this school year one day, MANY years from now.
It's time to let them figure it out and find out what they are made of.
They can do it. So can we.
This parenting gig is a tough one, huh? A fine balance of being there with support and gradually letting go of the responsibility. Where did I put that parenting manual? Oh, yeah, there isn't one ... you are doing a great job! We are always doing the best we can in the moment. Enjoy this senior year .... because I know A. is!!! :)
ReplyDeleteThis parenting gig is a tough one, huh? A fine balance of being there with support and gradually letting go of the responsibility. Where did I put that parenting manual? Oh, yeah, there isn't one ... you are doing a great job! We are always doing the best we can in the moment. Enjoy this senior year .... because I know A. is!!! :)
ReplyDeleteWell said. We just carted our daughter off to school and I think we are doing ok. We talked, planned and prepared for this moment the last 6 years. She is my step-daughter but really she is my daughter. Because we went through so many growing pains to guide her to this point, I think we are ok letting her fly on her own. She knows we are here for her but definitely wants to prove herself. We couldn't be more proud. As for parenting, yeah, there is not manual and that's probably good. I don't want to know how many times we made mistakes. All we need to see is her soaring with a smile.
ReplyDeleteI've been there once before, will do it again next year with our youngest....and this coming May, we have a graduating COLLEGE senior--yikes! This post is a great reminder that there may be falls yet to come for her....but fingers crossed there won't be!
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