And also because it was your BIRTHDAY! Birthday girl!!! I will now make a list of all the things I hope you had on your big day:
1. Cake
2. Sexy Time with Huck
3. More Cake
4. XOXOXOXO

I love that you got raw and honest with this comment. (Except for the OSU part.) 🙂 🙂
I wrote something very similar to this concept for Part 3. I think you will like that part. In the meantime, I’m glad you put this out because it validates me. It makes me feel very good about what I say in Part 3. I never know for sure if I truly know what I’m talking about so it helps when someone, especially someone like YOU, writes something like this.
Thank you so much. I think you are the best mom and friend, and I know the relationship you dreamed about is still being built.
LOVE YOU!!!

I have two teenagers 17 & 19. I am very proud of them both. Although, my younger one wants to go to Ohio State 😉

The one thing I wish someone had told me was to accept that your kids are not you. (And perhaps even if “they” had, I would not have believed them at the time) But it is true. You will teach your kids your values. You will teach them your religion. You will teach them your politics, etc. You will teach them everything you think they need to know to get along in the world but there is the final point in THEIR life when they will choose for themselves. Unless they choose a path to self destruction, you have to accept it. (And, frankly, even if they choose self destruction you really cannot stop them.)

But in the end the real decision is yours. What kind of relationship do you want with your child? One of judgement and conflict or one of compassion and support? Either way, your kids will do what they want to do.

I wish I had been more open to their thoughts and feelings about their place in the world. I was so sure that I knew all the answers to their questions that I didn’t consider they would think about things I never did. What it cost me was open communication – by their definition – and the opportunity to celebrate who they were and what they wanted; on their terms. By age 16-ish I should have taken their thoughts and dreams seriously. I think things would be different.

It was humbling and I am learning. Things are getting better so I have hope for the relationship I had dreamed of. Again, for the record, I have good, hard working kids and I am very proud of them.

Just thought your readers would want to know.

It’s because I write how I talk. That way the girls will roll their eyes the whole time they are reading when they are old enough to get in. Thanks for being here, Doc. Love when I see your name pop up! XOXOXO