sowingseeds

Often parents want and expect their children to be “just like them” in almost every way. But a child is a separate person, one who will make his/her own choices about everything in life, including how much s/he wants to imitate his/her parents.

This has recently been illustrated well by Shelly and Merry . Our kids are their own people and will choose to live their own way, whether that means rejecting things like meatballs or racism, it is ultimately up to them to decide how to live out their own ideals and values.

It seems most often that teens are not willing to talk about stuff that is bothering them. I know with my own son when things get tough, we sometimes have to dig around for information. It seems that once we do a little digging, the air can be cleared and feelings can be soothed and problems can be faced and worked on. Sometimes things just hurt and they will for a while, but by aerating the situation and allowing these grievances to be aired out, it allows for the air to be cleared and for time to help the healing begin.