Tomorrow, on December 22nd, I will officially have 5 teenagers. Teresa and I are protesting. My question mark at the end of "celebrate" in the blog entry title is not a mistake. It seems like we are supposed to celebrate, but why do we feel like we want to go into a closet and cry? Our dilemma is not related to whether or not we like teenagers. We love teenagers - especially ours! They are awesome; and parenting them is a privilege. There are unique challenges to parenting teenagers; but then again, every stage of life and parenting has its challenges. I think the real question as to whether or not it should be a celebration has to do with the feeling of old age that it brings to us as parents with growing children. We know the time is short, and if they are all teenagers, it also means that they are soon going to living somewhere else, not with us - building their own families. It is sad. We miss the little ones (don't talk to me about grandchildren yet), and the feeling that this was just beginning. We now have the feeling that things are ending. Don't you feel sorry for us? Probably not. It is life, isn't it? We grow older, and things change. We don't think we are old enough to have 5 teenagers. Don't you agree?
Happy Birthday to Caleb and Gabrielle, our two youngest; and turning 13! I can still remember holding both of you, one in each hand, at the same time - soon after your birth. God had already given us 3 amazing children, and you were the two that filled up our family, as He designed it. We are so thankful for both of you, and have seen God's hand in your lives up to this point. God has used you both to bring us incredible joy over these 13 years. We look forward to seeing how God is going to keep working in and through you over the next several years. We are glad (deep down) that you are now teenagers, and will continue to enjoy the time God gives us to walk along side of you. Enjoy!
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