Why Read This?

Let me take a moment to introduce myself. I’m the forty-six-year-old mother of one teenage girl. So why should you listen to me? I only have one child with just that one person's worth of experience. Except that I'm not only a mother but also a high school teacher in her 18th year of public education. I mean look at me, I’m surrounded by teenagers all the time, so of course, I've probably picked up something from them. If nothing else, the ins and outs of social media and technology usage, but if that was the case then why start a blog about it? Why give the reins of power to my teenage daughter? I mean I’m older. I’ve had numerous careers, lots of work experience, tons of life experience, roughly thirty years compared to her measly sixteen and a half, so what made me decide that she had something to contribute? The answer is easy. Because she does.

We’ve all heard that we should learn from each other and that by having children I would learn more about myself and become a better human or something along those lines. When my own mother told me this I believed her without question and wouldn't you know she was right. It was as if you chose not to reproduce you were inferior, which still made me question whether I was prepared to enter into this inner sanctum of parental greatness for quite some time. If you have children, you have to know what you’re doing, have to have all the answers or at least appear to, right? If you have kids, you know the answer to that one. We very rarely know what we’re doing and most of the time we are winging it, using our own childhoods as our road map to developing a competent, functioning mini replica of ourselves when our own childhoods were riddled with potholes and detour signs. Why do I say all of this? To give you an idea of this idyllic notion of parenting and its unchanging hierarchy.

The world of hormonal adolescents is full of tidbits of useful suggestions that we could all learn from if we took the time to look. Does this apply to all teens? I can’t say that for certain. I do know, however, that I very rarely leave my classroom without feeling as if I gleaned a little more about the human psyche and sometimes learning more about myself too. The coal that these young people are grinding away will become diamonds if you give them enough time. This is the case with my daughter who despite her occasional teen moodiness, is one of the wisest souls I have ever known, and that is the reason why I am taking the time to share her wisdom with you because I know it has made me want to be a better person and not just because I gave birth to her but because it simply makes good sense. I promise not to use technical terms or cite expert psychologists. By sharing my own personal experiences maybe she and I can help you gain a little insight too. What can it hurt? Maybe it will help you learn from your teen too…Or maybe even help you to be a better person too.