The Teen Years

By .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Wednesday - May 26, 2010

E-mail this story | Print this page | Comments (0) | Archive | RSS

| Share

Del.icio.us

I guess it’s time for me to turn in my membership card to the “man” club. That’s because the other day I was nearly crying like a baby. Our daughter celebrated her 13th birthday and entered the teenage years.

It’s hard for me to imagine that she’s growing up. Sure, there are the obvious physical clues, like the fact that she’s turning into a beautiful young lady.

I imagine if I’m lucky, I only have a few years where she’ll have anything to do with me.

I’m cringing at the thought that one day she might yell, “I hate you!” back to me over some boy or fashion statement that I don’t agree with. She’s strong-willed like her mother and smart as a whip.

Unfortunately, she’s also learned the art of sarcasm and wit from her old man. She has comebacks that boggle the mind, as they’re quick and razor-sharp.

But she also can be charming as heck, proven by the fact that we’ll do almost anything for her. She’s had a tough year so far, spending so much time with us, as we literally lived at hospitals caring for my in-laws.

So when she asked for an iPhone for her birthday, it wasn’t totally out of the realm of possibility. It’s just that it’s an expensive gift and, like everyone, we’re trying to keep our expenses within reason. I know a lot of people think we spoil her, but the truth is she works for nearly everything she has. Many times we end up borrowing cash from her.

But when we told her the iPhone might not happen, the “teen attitude” thing kind of reared its ugly head. Despite that, she had really earned something special, so my wife and I were determined to get it for her.