Cutting the Apron Strings ..alittle at a time

Maybe just fraying them.

I am not the kind of mom that wants my children to hurry up and leave. I want them to be a daily part of my life...always. Seth says he will build a house in our field and I can make his kids M& M cookies. I like the sound of that.

Teens. Teens are a strange breed. They are this child in a body that is mutating to adulthood and taking casualties with it.
It is a tender time in life.

When I was a new mother I couldn't wait for my kids to get older...mainly for my need to sleep.
When I was in the thick of toddlerhood (not that I am totally through it)... I,at times, looked forward to for bigger kids.

People would say "Bigger Kids. Bigger Problems."
I scoffed at that. Now way.

The Big Kids Era was to be when Mom's go back to work with adult conversations and the kids take care of themselves. We all come home from our days, eat around the table chat without talking over people, or burping. They take care of their dishes themselves, help clean messes-not make them, wipe there own butts, actually make it to the bathroom when they are sick, drive themselves and others places....mo more Mom's Shuffle Shuttle. I thought I couldn't wait for bon-bons and soap operas.
Huh.
Where in the heck did I get that load of crap from?

Teens are in a struggle. May I be so bold and call it a war?

From what I can see now, it's the time when the child becomes the Man Child/Young Women. It's
The
"I can do it.... I don't need you.... I hate you.... You are ruining my life ...Have I made you cry yet?.... Why do you have to be so stupid ....Mom? Got a minute? I really need to talk to you." stage.

They don't want the apron,but wait they do....
Push but pull. Go but stay.
I like my apron just fine and I don't want to give it up thank you. Cuz I love you.

'Mom how does this look?.. you are just saying that cuz you're my Mom. Wait you don't like what part.....What do know about fashion... you were an 80s chick (true. they got me on that one). I can't win -so I remember the different art of conversing.
Remember when your three yr old brought you a drawing and you had no idea what it was? Well we were taught to say
'WOW that's great a drawing,tell me about it.....' I talk like that by saying... "Well what's your favorite part?"
Actually some of the tantrums over curfews and chores remind me of a two yr...nevermind.

I worry more now than ever. I am not afraid too much of what they will eat,did they brush their teeth?,hold my hand and look both ways, dance class or swimming lessons or will I sleep ever again...cuz it is obvious I won't.
Bigger kids. Bigger problems.
When I brought my children into this world I had a dream for each one of them individually and collectively. Knowing we all have the freedom to choose, my dreams for them individually have altered .....my dreams collectively have not.
I hate what they have to got through and I don't want my kids to be part of it. When you see pictures like this on Facebook
What mother wants this for their child? How is this ok?



This makes me cry of worry. I am like MY mother. " Do you know what can happen out there? I do trust my children, but in times of poor judgment tragic mistakes can and do happen.
In a world where this is cool, and normal... it makes me shake my head and ...shake my head..... worry....there is a new meaning to worried sick in my life.

I am glad that I have children that are over all...amazing. I sat and listened to a girl talk about praying for a friend. I watch my daughter fast for others. I think having a big family is for teens as it teaches service to others big and small. I see the good in my jewels and try to mold, direct, guide, pull, push, love them into directions of good and wholesome activities... it is my newest full time job. Not that I am trying to control their lives, but so they can avoid as much as possible the pitfalls quicksand,danger...trials that are out there. It is my desire to give them every opportunity for good and service I can and then love them even more.

When a child is born you have to DO EVERYTHING for that little baby and I just got in to that mode. It is hard for me to snip the strings,it is hard for me to watch them grow away from me, but it is fun to watch them try their wings and shine.


In a weird upside down backward world...... as much as it is enormously difficult task to raise teens...dare I say more difficult than labor.
I am glad...honored for the teens, tweens, young adults in my life who are amazing.


note the pictures are grab from the web