Milestones, Heart Strings and Attitudes

Over the past few months, our family has experienced many milestones. And on Sunday our family will reach and celebrate yet another......

The youngest member of our family is having a birthday and turning thirteen. We are after all these years, leaving our "tween" times behind us for good, and will be surrounded by a house full of teens !

It's a moment that is pulling at my heart strings.

For him it's a big occasion, a moment in time that he has been on the count down to. New challenges, lots of changes and new beginnings as he prepares to enter High School in just a few short weeks. To him it's a definite sign of growing up, new adventures and a whole new world to experience.

For me, I am not ready. I don't want to let go of my "baby". In my past experience, once kids start High School, it seems as though before to long they shake off the last touches of being a"little kid" and enter into another whole new world of adolescence.

Attitudes with a capital A, that new found confidence that makes them ALWAYS right, Argumentative, and not to mention the fact that they think that house rules no longer apply to them. In fact its almost a step back in time to the "terrible twos" all over again.

I honestly don't think that I am fully prepared to go through it all again, I have had my head in the sand, been in complete ignorance that I was ever going to get to this stage again, in my mind my youngest child would stay just that, young, small, impressionable, mine. But alas that is not the case, the time is here all to quickly. Right under my nose he grew up and now its time that this mum must realise that its time to wake up, pull my head out of the sand and head into the horizon with a "can do, will do" attitude of my own......This fourth journey down the road of "teenagism" will not defeat me. It may not be a completely peaceful journey, but its one that I am going to face head on full of determination that only a mother possesses.

So my little one, as you begin this new journey in life, remember that not everything has to be a struggle. Remain true to yourself and shine. Be your own person and continue to follow your own path. There will be times when you will find yourself being led down a road into the unknown and when this happens, stop and think about how this could affect you ? Is it the right path for you to travel down ?

Life is a tough journey. We don't always make the right choices. No matter how old we get, or how much life experience we possess, things are thrown at us in the most unexpected ways. I want you to remember that no matter what happens, no matter what life throws at you, I am here. You are never to old to turn to your mum in times of need. That old attitude with that sneaky capital A need not come between us. We are family and family sticks together through the good times and the rough. Just ask those big brothers of yours, they are finally learning that parents are not "enemies" but here to guide you through life in the best possible way we know how.
Yes we will argue, we will disagree and have times when its best to leave each other alone to calm down before compromising on what ever issue is at hand.
You are a good boy, a sensible boy, continue on that path and your teenage years will be a magical experience that is filled with great joy and happiness....

Happy Birthday Ben