This Stuff is Awesome

As you move into to the stage of parenting preteens or teens, everything changes.

Well I haven't parented teens yet, but so far preteens seem to allude the future...

The rules are gone. The expectations changed. It's all just different.

You find yourself fine with a genuine "thank you." Thrilled with a shrug and a reality based "that's cool, Mom."

A hug is amazing.

It's just different. You know they are still there. They might still quietly ask you to tuck them into bed or cuddle a bit before they fall asleep. But it's different. The affection changes. And you tell yourself, all the time, that it should. That this is the right, next step.

And then your kid brings home the idea of Shakespeare.

They are studying Shakespeare in performing arts and, suddenly, well, it's cool. And because there is a commonality, we're cool.

Cool as in, pull out the 3M stickies and mark interesting sections, cool.

As in... races to the basement to finds your oh-so-old-from-college (is-it-really-that-old-when it's-500-years-ago-and-college-was-only-15-years-ago-but-I-digress) consolidated works.

Digging into it like it's a loaf of Hawaiian bread and spinach dip (wait, that was me talking, but still...)

With "Wait, Mom, this is interesting, can dinner wait?" requests...

And "oh, I have to show my teacher this part," breaks.

And you just see the future. Not skip it. Not avoid it.

It's good.

The hugs have changed. It's different. But you see the minds. The personalities. The lives developing. And you can't help but smile.

Thanks, Shakespeare. Thanks, life.

You just see it.

And it's good.