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Parenting Teens: It’s Not As Bad As You Think!
“Just wait until your kids are teenagers!” I often heard these words when my three kids were much younger. My first two kids were born just over two years apart, followed by my youngest, born four years later. As a busy, working mom of three, I balanced taking my kids out often and keeping them active between work and life.
I remember one experience when my kids were aged 7, 5, and 1, and we were on our way home from a long, exhausting out-of-town trip. A hot cup of coffee for me and donuts for the kids would be a nice treat. I stopped by a local Tim Hortons. What should have been a relaxing experience turned into a cascade of meltdowns, starting with my youngest squirming in a stroller, then my 5-year-old, as we became a spectacle in the cafe.
The more I tried to console my children, the louder they became, followed by several judgmental looks, then a few nods of understanding from strangers in the coffee shop. Still, that same statement crept up again: “If you think your kids are challenging now, wait until they become teenagers!” Ugh.
Fast forward over ten years later, and my kids are now 20, 18, and 14. Are the teen years a challenge? Yes, to an extent, but being a parent doesn’t come close to the nightmarish expectations I was supposed to have. Being a parent to teens has some significant advantages, which I…
