TodayI received a text that I have been dreading since the day my daughter was born. "Can I hang out with my friends after school on Friday?"; she asks. Immediately, I start to sweat, it becomes all I can think about, and a pool of questions fill my head...
Where are you going?
Who will be driving?
How many friends is it?
What if my answer is no?
When did I get a teenager?!
I think to myself, fighting back the urge to respond for fear of dulling her little teenage sparkle. She goes on to tell me that they will be going to eat at a local hot dog place and then to a friend's house to play a game. Unsure about how to feel and what to say, I finally responded with "OMG! Lets talk about this later." More thoughts...
What do I say?
Should she go?
Should she stay?
When did I get a teenager?!
I have no idea how to handle this, but for now, I will wait until "later" to decide.
Where are you going?
Who will be driving?
How many friends is it?
What if my answer is no?
When did I get a teenager?!
I think to myself, fighting back the urge to respond for fear of dulling her little teenage sparkle. She goes on to tell me that they will be going to eat at a local hot dog place and then to a friend's house to play a game. Unsure about how to feel and what to say, I finally responded with "OMG! Lets talk about this later." More thoughts...
What do I say?
Should she go?
Should she stay?
When did I get a teenager?!
I have no idea how to handle this, but for now, I will wait until "later" to decide.
This is an exciting and new time for you as a parent. I think that you have to have positive presuppositions about the situation and try not to obsess about every detail of her time out. The less questions you ask the more information she will probably give you.
ReplyDeleteA teenager! How exciting... and nerve-wracking. You do a nice job of letting us experience your state of mind when you list all the questions running through your head. I've got my fingers crossed that you say "yes" - she sounds like a responsible kid!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love teaching teenagers, which convinced me I would love being the parent of a teenager--but it turns out I was really wrong about that. Parenting a teenager is so nerve-wracking! At least it sounds like she has a solid plan and hopefully will check in with you if that changes!
ReplyDeleteI feel like I can understand your anxiety, but I also know what a fab mom you are and you've already given her so many of the things she needs to go out into the world and make the best decisions :-) Please update us in a future post to what she does and how you did!
ReplyDeleteI go through this every time my teenagers ask to go out, especially at night. Letting go will get easier, but there is no such thing as being too protective. You are a great my of a good kid that makes good decisions so there's no need to worry :)
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