Some Things Change. Some Stay the Same.
This post was written in partnership with The Center for Parent and Teen Communication.
Then: I decided when you were very small to make sure you knew we valued kindness and compassion toward others even more than academic or athletic accomplishments. We cheered when you gave your allowance to the Humane Association. We celebrated the patience and understanding you always showed your younger brother. And when you cried on the first day of school because you heard kids making fun of a girl in your class who was a little different from the others, we assured you your response was entirely appropriate, and helped you figure out how to let the teacher know what had happened.
Now: At 14, you love Christmas because you get to choose presents for everyone you know, and you spend months working to save money for those presents. Your little brother still calls you his best friend. You are kind to the kids at school who need kindness the most, and you do all of these things without even thinking about it. I am proud of your grades and your achievements – You are a conscientious student and a budding actress. But I’m most proud that you’re growing up to be a truly good person, the kind of person we desperately need more of in this world.
Our relationship with our children changes from their preschool years to their teens, but our connection with them can stay strong, even as they prepare to leave the nest. The Center for Parent and Teen Communication is a new resource that can help you navigate the teen years. This post from director Dr. Ginsburg is an excellent example of the kind of advice they’re sharing with parents.
I’d love to hear your own ‘then’ and ‘now’ memories in the comments, and feel free to share this video and new resource with other parents of teens out there. We can all use as much support as we can get, right?
