With the official start to Fall arriving this week, which also happens to be the same day of my son’s 15th birthday, I thought it was fitting to talk about this season of change. Here in the OC, let’s face it, we don’t really see any signs of Fall until practically Thanksgiving, and in some years, Christmas. Our pumpkin spice lattes are over ice but that doesn’t mean we don’t still enjoy the transition to Fall, even if the thermostat doesn’t agree.
Fall always brings the normal set of changes, from back to school, back to regular routines and the early onset of holiday fever. In our house, September marks two very special dates, our first born’s birthday and our wedding anniversary. This year, as our son turns 15, there are so many new milestones headed our way. He is headed to his first Homecoming dance at school and a mere 6 months away from being behind the wheel. I know how fast a year goes by so I know it will be a wink before he is officially a licensed driver. Being a mom of a teen is hard but the mother/son dynamic has been especially difficult. Navigating the waters between trying to raise a strong, independent, respectful man and wanting to just hug him and make all his problems better while he wants very little to do with me most days, has been one of the most challenging experiences of motherhood. And trust me, he definitely challenged me as a toddler. I’m working on finding ways to connect and communicate that keep him talking since that is so important to surviving these teen years. Thankfully, I am blessed to have a supportive husband, family and friends in the same stage of life to lean on for advice or just a good listening ear. I am also open to all resources and am currently re-reading Tyler Durman’s book, “Counterintuitive”.
Knowing that we only have a few precious years left with our son makes this time more valuable than ever. We want to make as many memories as we can and instill all the family traditions possible before sending him off but I also know these years are so critical for them to understand responsibility and how to manage it. Getting into college is harder than ever and comes with a ton of pressure these days. We know we can’t do it for him but all we can do is support, love and encourage him to do the best he can in all aspects of his life.
As this season of change brings ups and downs pretty much daily, one thing remains constant. We still love our little boy as much today as we did the day he was born and nothing will change that. As a parent, that’s the first step. From there, we are all just trying to figure it out one day a time. I trust God’s plan for him and us in the process and hold tightly to that on the tough days. I pray for all the parents out there today that whatever stage of parenthood you are in, hang in there. Ask for help or advice, give yourself a break and know that it will get better and you will survive. We are all in this together!