Maybe you’ve forgotten.

by Michele Ranard
365 words

There are a myriad of blessings to be grateful for now that you have a teen! Don’t believe me? How soon we forget that it wasn’t all cotton candy and fresh-faced cherubs before our kids hit puberty!

We’re quick to moan about the fact they’re driving or soon will be, but sometimes we suffer amnesia for how vulnerable they were (and we were!) just a few years ago. Sure there are new problems and worries specific to parenting adolescents, but just for a moment, let’s positively reflect on the joys of this life phase. Ready?

1. No more cutting up their pork chop, wrestling them into the bath, or teething.

2. Time for exercise (or social networking or The Real Housewives).

3. Dora has left the building!

4. No one expects you to look as youthful as Natalie Portman.

5. Time-out now brings to mind an NBA game, not a naughty corner.

6. In-house experts for all matters of fashion and internet.

7. Car seats and car seat tantrums? History.

8. Kids have likely outgrown separation anxiety and diaper rash.

9. Sharing your favorite ‘80s movies is now possible.

10. Bidding au revoir to “sanitizing the toybox” days.

11. Freshman soccer games less stressful than the 6-year old’s piano recital.

12. Pocketing the cash formerly shelled out to babysitters for mani-pedis.

13. Uninterrupted minutes to read design blogs online.

14. Will not have to set eyes on another sippy cup until grandkids visit.

15. Do not require a vacation returning home from family vacation.

16. Less humiliation in restaurants, at pediatrician, and in grocery store.

17. No longer asked to help with math homework!

18. Drivers for milk runs, T.P., and more chocolate.

19. Even when you sleep in, you’re still up before the kids.

20. Still a hero every time you bake chocolate chip cookies.

Feel better? Good. And just to prove there’s plenty more to celebrate, I offer this bonus: If you were the parent always roped into being your child’s room parent (not that there’s anything unsavory about being the room parent crammed on the school bus to the zoo—it’s honorable for sure), BABY, CUE THE CONFETTI BECAUSE YOUR TENURE IS OVER!

Michele Ranard has two wonderful teens, a husband, and a master’s in counseling. She is a freelance writer with blogs at hellolovelychild.blogspot.com and hellolovelyinc.blogspot.com.