Oh .... Mohhhmmy

We have hit the tween years. I love it and dread it. My daughter is sweet. She's an obedient gal. She really wants to please. However, I can see those teen years coming and all that those years bring with them. I have been dreading it.

Until today.

Today I listened to HomeWord with Jim Burns at OnePlace.com. This particular interview was with Susie Shellenberger, the editor of Brio magazine. The topic was, "Hearing What Your Daughter Isn't Telling You". I was humbled. I was excited. I was nervous. I was relieved. I experienced a lot of emotions while listening because for the first time I realized that I have been quite ill with Ostrich Syndrome. It's quite debilitating, this syndrome. Those affected proceed through daily life with their rears in the air and heads in the sand pretending that their "babies" are not growing up. I got a kick in the seat today and I am very grateful. Digging the sand out of my ears, I realized all over again that NOW is the time to make the teen years great. I need to truly work at my relationship with my daughter to cultivate intimacy and fun ... while she still wants to hang out with me. :)

I'm actually choosing to change my attitude about the change that is encroaching upon my daughter. Praise God that she is normal and can grow up. Praise God that she has the ability to articulate herself to me. Praise God that she can discern right from wrong (even when she doesn't make the right choice between the two). Praise God for hormones as they are part of growing up. It's all good. Change is supposed to be hard. Why was I telling myself that her growth was to be dreaded? All great character growth is ugly in the process, but the result is a blessing to behold.

So, I have chosen to embrace this eye-rolling, fashion-driven, big-sighing, please-don't-embarress-me-Mommy time and just love the whole thing. That's what love is afterall, isn't it? Love is patient. Love is kind. Love does not envy, it does not boast. It is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices in the truth. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.