Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Ten Reasons Teenagers are great



1. They can make you coffee - this is an important milestone for any teen, the love and gratitude that pours out from Mum when they bring a lovely steaming mug of coffee is comparable to the elation you felt the first time your small child successfully wiped their own butt. Extra points for a couple of pieces of peanut butter toast. 

2. They can organise their own playdates. Even better, at those playdates you no longer feel that slightly wary "oh god, please don't hit little Johnny over the head with the Tonka Truck this time" feeling. Teenagers know how to share with their friends, to take turns and to not cry if they don't get the cupcake with the most sprinkles.

3. They sleep in !
   I repeat - They sleep in !

4. They take care of their own personal hygiene. They shower themselves. Your back no longer aches from bending over the bath tub, no tears and tantrums on hair-washing night. You no longer have any information about the consistency of anyone's poo. You don't have to wipe anything .  I know ! Winning!

5. They get your jokes and can hold a real conversation that doesn't involve Barbie or Thomas the Tank Engine. Real genuine discussions with actual multi-syllable words. 

6. They can sit through an entire movie without needing a toilet break. 

7. They can help out. Teenagers are capable of washing a sink of dishes and they can finally reach the clothes line. I'm not saying bribery isn't needed to get them to help out, but it sure is nice to be able to share the workload a little and if it helps, think of it as 'preparing them for when they leave home'.

8. The angst of finding a suitable babysitter with National working with Children certificate and at least three references is no longer needed. Yes my friends, teenagers babysit themselves !! It has been years since I worried if a day carer was secretly a deviant, or felt the need to place hidden cameras in a stuffed teddy bear. 

9. You can start to reclaim some of the space from the acres of Lego, matchbox cars and Barbie dolls. I'm not saying teenagers don't have stuff - my girls have enough makeup and hair product to put on a broadway show of Priscilla Queen of the Desert- but it isn't taking up every centimetre of the floor and cupboard space in the family room. I can now sit on the couch without the unexpected surprise of a stiff Barbie leg venturing where it wasn't invited. A walk to the bathroom can be made without turning on lights and checking for Lego landmines. 




10.  Teenagers are a photograph coming into focus. All your hard work, all the worry and fuss. Every time you guided them through saying 'please' and 'thankyou', each time you sat them on the naughty chair, every parent teacher interview at school, every exhausted phone call to your best friend asking for ideas. This is where you finally start to see the results. It's not perfect yet, there are glitches and stumbling blocks. But ever so slowly, through the teen years, the picture comes into focus and you see the grownup person you have been nurturing.

It's a beautiful thing.



Linking with Jess for  I Blog On Tuesdays xxx


 

35 comments:

  1. I love the photograph analogy - and I'm looking forward to the sleep-ins!

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    1. It's a lovely analogy and it is so true.. and Sleep-ins Rock!

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  2. Awesome post! We are in the land of Tweens so mini versions of this. They can make their own food, just need help with air washing (I have girls) and we are slowly getting rid of half the toys! Still waiting for the coffee making though

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    1. Hang in there Deb, it will come - Yes my tween still needs help with hair brushing - she's 9 with long thick hair, but she now washes and conditions it herself - I only have to get the shower started and the right temp and away she goes .. even turning it off and drying everything herself :-)

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  3. I had our 10 year old nephew stay over and I loved seeing a glimpse into the future. Example he could get his own drink and get my eldest 2 a drink!! Amazing!!! Bring on the sleep ins and no lego!! I loved this post.

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    1. Thanks Ann .. Oh gosh yes, once you borrow an older kid for a visit you start to anticipate all the goodness that is to come. LOVE IT when they can get reach the kitchen tap and get their own drink. Happy days!

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  4. Too often I tell my toddler to stop growing so quickly. It's quite selfish of me really. I'm not ready to contemplate what lies ahead - the unknown can be quite daunting. But you've given me some hope that there's some pretty amazing things that lie ahead. A lovely post you've shared - thank you.

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    1. Oh I still miss my babies and the littleness of toddlers, I miss when they were shamelessly affectionate. But I'm here to tell you there are wonderful things ahead too, just you wait and see xx

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  5. I love that "coming into focus" metaphor. I can see some of that - just the beginning - with my preteen. He also has 1, 2, 4, 5,6&7 down. Sleeping in I still can't imagine (my three year old routinely sleeps in longer than him). And with three and seven year olds as well, I've still got years of Lego and babysitting to manage. But, it's nice to get a positive sense of where its all heading! :)

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    1. I don't think I really appreciated the teenager-ness of my first as we were still in preteen for the other three.. but now he can drive (read: go to shop, collect little sister from work/ballet, get school kids to school when I've had night shift) it's the greatest thing since sliced bread!

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  6. I love the photograph coming into focus. It's perfect. I love 8 but not seeing much of the other behaviours exhibited (except the sleep)

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  7. Thank you for linking up to my "Pin It" Party, I will post this post on the "Party" board. What a great post, I couldn't agree more!! I have actually written a very similar post on my blog back in August http://barbiebieberandbeyond.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/teenagers-rule.html I love the teenager too!!!!

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    1. I've popped over and read your post - yes !! Parties are so much easier! noone cries if they don't win at pass the parcel and no mother rings you beforehand to give you a list of little Johnny's "No-No" foods or to lecture you on the hyperactive qualities of food colouring.

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  8. This is beautiful! I love this line the most. Teenagers are a photograph coming into focus. When they get their P's they are the responsible driver yay!

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    1. Absolutely. My teen boy is now my favourite person on the planet ! He can get milk, pick up his little sister from ballet ( and do a late night junk food run) What is not to love about that???

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  9. With our eldest now almost 16 and 13 I can totally relate to all of these! And I love that photograph coming into focus line.

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    1. Thanks Jodi ... so much angst and negativity about teenagers but I am loving the teen years. At least they can tell my why they are crying, unlike very small cute babies

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  10. Great to see a post focusing on the positives of having teens. Mine are 19 and almost 17 :-)

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  11. Love your quote : teenagers are photo's coming into focus. I am years away from the teen world but am loving hearing about your experiences.

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  12. Isn't it lovely when you can pop out and leave them! And leave them in charge of a younger sibling or two! Yay!

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  13. I love that quote! Beautiful. While I don't want to wish away my time with my three and one year olds, man I cannot wait until they can bring me a cup of coffee and have them sleep in!

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  14. I love the last point. What a beautiful way of looking at it. Great list though and all valid points

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  15. And this makes it all seem so compelling and not the dreaded thing most of us think it to be. I'm looking forward to it

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  16. Nice to have a positive spin :) Teenage years are a good way off for me, but it's nice to know it's not all to be feared :)

    Hello from #teamIBOT

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  17. Makes me excited for the teenage years...I just am in no real hurry for them to get here ;-)

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  18. Sometimes I need a reminder of all the good things about having a teenager, so thank you! I love having mother daughter dates with my teen, which are FAR more enjoyable than going out to dinner or the movies with my 4 and 5 year olds :)

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  19. I hear you, absolutely loving this stage in life. I love the freedom, conversation, and coffee making. My two teen girls are truly amazing, I am blessed, and yes I am up everday before they are! :) xx Nikki@WonderfullyWomen

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  20. Love how this is such a positive outlook on teenagers! Love that quote too. So very true!

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  21. I love how positive this is! We're a loooong way off teenage years (and sleep ins *sob*) but the thought has always made me shudder! Thanks for giving me a new perspective and a lot of hope.

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  22. Love the positivity of this post. I am really hoping that my sleep dodging 4 year old, realises how awesome sleep is when he is a teen...or at least if he doesn't I can sleep in and not worry that he's going to burn the house down.

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  23. I WANT ONE NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I bet there are lots of things that aren't great Lisa but I read this with a smile on my face and felt excited about what is to come for me, thanks lovely - there are days when I wonder if it will get easier, and after reading this I can see it will (kinda) Em xx

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  24. Oh I just love that idea of coming into focus. What a beautiful image. Well, my oldest is 6 and this week we had a morning where she got up without waking me, made breakfast for her siblings and let me sleep in until 8am. My first sleep-in in years, literally. When I realised what she'd done I cried - and the poor thing was completely confused! I love that you are appreciating the good things about teens. They tend to get a bad wrap.

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  25. You had me at 3. Pure bliss!

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  26. This was so funny I had to show it to my wife, because she wanted to know what I was laughing at :o)

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Your comments are welcome, please be kind and respectful. We all have different views of the world, sharing your view with gentle words is appreciated.xxx Lisa