You are so much more assured and confident than I was at that point in my daughter's life. Her senior year was the most stressful ever - FOR ME. But in the end, all the fear and anxiety over her transition to college turned out to be for naught. She chose a campus that turned out to be the exact right place at the right time for her (which is kind of what happened when I freaked out over picking a preschool, kindergarten, middle school, and high school - you know, EVERY stage of her life). I know your daughters are going to thrive whatever they end up doing, because they've had such a good family foundation.
I really liked this post, it arrived at a time when I have not been feeling like a Super Parent as my kid goes to school just this year for the frirst time. It helps to remind me that you need the long term perspective on the daily minutiae. Thank you :)
Excellent advice, and I have also found that though the teen years are hard and bring many new worries, the very fact of seeing my kids interact with the world is a joy (as is watching grown up movies with them!) Thanks for the reminder.
I have one piece of parenting advice I share with new parents – just one! And it's that it always gets easier. Like you, I wasn't crazy about toddlerhood; I appreciate all phases of my kids' lives, but really relish that once they're older, we can really interact and communicate in ways that mean a lot to me. A lot of folks like to warn you about the teenage years, but I've mostly loved them.
I love the idea of appreciating more how great your kids have become when they hold their own in a dinner conversation or share insights you learn from. So good
I have so many things to say in response, too many. But let me try to start. 1. Thank you for the mention here. 2. Thinking about how we found each other and far you and I have come together as mothers, writers and friends is ...well, you know. 3. What you've said here about teens mirrors my experience. It was my absolute favorite "phase" of their childhoods. 4. I have two kids, and my oldest's senior year was...wow. That countdown feeling! You're right -- it's its own thing. 5. My youngest's senior year was obliterated by the pandemic, something I'm still grieving and trying to process. There were moments of great beauty, but I need more time to metabolize my pain and loss there. 6. Dr. Ken is a national treasure.
As always, you speak to my experiences so much more eloquently than I can! I've been following you since my oldest (and Thalia) were 6 months or so. Your blog made me feel not so alone, and you continue to validate my feelings. I LOVE watching adult movies w/my 17 and 15 year-olds! And this senior year is so hard! The whole college app process was so difficult and now that it's over, I'm dreading her leaving! The teen years are hard, but I like this hard so much better than the toddler hard.
You are so much more assured and confident than I was at that point in my daughter's life. Her senior year was the most stressful ever - FOR ME. But in the end, all the fear and anxiety over her transition to college turned out to be for naught. She chose a campus that turned out to be the exact right place at the right time for her (which is kind of what happened when I freaked out over picking a preschool, kindergarten, middle school, and high school - you know, EVERY stage of her life). I know your daughters are going to thrive whatever they end up doing, because they've had such a good family foundation.
Word. Every word rings true.
I really liked this post, it arrived at a time when I have not been feeling like a Super Parent as my kid goes to school just this year for the frirst time. It helps to remind me that you need the long term perspective on the daily minutiae. Thank you :)
Excellent advice, and I have also found that though the teen years are hard and bring many new worries, the very fact of seeing my kids interact with the world is a joy (as is watching grown up movies with them!) Thanks for the reminder.
I have one piece of parenting advice I share with new parents – just one! And it's that it always gets easier. Like you, I wasn't crazy about toddlerhood; I appreciate all phases of my kids' lives, but really relish that once they're older, we can really interact and communicate in ways that mean a lot to me. A lot of folks like to warn you about the teenage years, but I've mostly loved them.
I love the idea of appreciating more how great your kids have become when they hold their own in a dinner conversation or share insights you learn from. So good
I have so many things to say in response, too many. But let me try to start. 1. Thank you for the mention here. 2. Thinking about how we found each other and far you and I have come together as mothers, writers and friends is ...well, you know. 3. What you've said here about teens mirrors my experience. It was my absolute favorite "phase" of their childhoods. 4. I have two kids, and my oldest's senior year was...wow. That countdown feeling! You're right -- it's its own thing. 5. My youngest's senior year was obliterated by the pandemic, something I'm still grieving and trying to process. There were moments of great beauty, but I need more time to metabolize my pain and loss there. 6. Dr. Ken is a national treasure.
This resonates so loudly with me! <3
As always, you speak to my experiences so much more eloquently than I can! I've been following you since my oldest (and Thalia) were 6 months or so. Your blog made me feel not so alone, and you continue to validate my feelings. I LOVE watching adult movies w/my 17 and 15 year-olds! And this senior year is so hard! The whole college app process was so difficult and now that it's over, I'm dreading her leaving! The teen years are hard, but I like this hard so much better than the toddler hard.