Wretched Ass Teenager

I've borrowed that phrase from one of my friends and we use it to lovingly describe my teenage son. The friends who have given me that phrase have raised three children to adulthood and survived the teenage years. There is hope for me as well. And, my daughter who is now 21 - she proves to me every day that there is life after the teen years and that your children do turn back into loving human beings.

I remember when I was a pre-teen and a teenager. Do you remember when the world was so clearly black and white and you mocked the hypocrisy of adults? In our day, for the most part, we didn't openly mock or talk back to our parents or other adults. Today's world, it is more common for the teenagers to tell their parents exactly how they feel without censor.

We squabble most of the time and find it hard to talk to each other. Although the moments when we do connect, we really do connect. The times that we don't connect, I know that he hears me even if he refuses to acknowledge it. He is listening and I find him acting on it later. But, Lord, do I need to pray for patience constantly!