Mysterious teenagers

My almost sixteen-year-old daughter is keeping so much to herself these days, I feel like I hardly see her. When she’s not at gymnastics practice or cheering at games or with her friends, she holes up in her room for hours on end. Tonight she briefly emerged from her room to use the computer, then [...]

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Need some advice?

I’m the type who likes to consult others and is willing to take their advice, especially if I ask for it. I’m a firm believer that I don’t always have all the answers (or even the right ones) and that different viewpoints can shed light on what may seem to me like a closed door. [...]

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The Chauffer

One of my errands on the way home from work tonight was to pick up my impatient son at a friend’s house, drive him home so he could quickly shower and grab a bite to eat, then rush him back over to that friend’s house so they could head to a movie. While watching my son [...]

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Teenage daughters in love

My teenage daughter is spending more of her free time in the evenings talking on her cell phone to her boyfriend. She hardly ever talks to me any more. She goes straight to her room after gymnastics practice and either calls him or waits for him to call her. Maybe I’m a bit jealous of [...]

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A future in gymnastics

My daughter’s recent switch to a new gym was fraught with uncertainties for both of us. She was reluctant to leave her friends and a coach she’d known for 9 years. I was also struggling with questions of whether or not the move was for the right reasons or if I was just following the [...]

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Daughter’s first date

Our daughter went on her first date Saturday night and I must admit, it was hard to let her go. I don’t know if this is how my mom felt when I had my first date, but I know I wondered what my daughter was doing and worried about her until she came home. I think [...]

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Communicating with teens

I had an exasperating conversation with my 13-year-old son last Friday. It was his father’s birthday and we were planning to go to dinner that evening. I called home to give him an advanced warning to get ready for the event. I considered it a form of insurance for both of us, since my showing up at home [...]

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Teenage son

My son Eric turned thirteen this month, so he’s officially a teenager now. He’s starting to look more like a young man than a boy, so it’s a bittersweet time for me. His hands are nearly the same size as mine and he’s getting taller than his older sister. His face is still smooth (he’s somewhere [...]

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Practice driving

My daughter asked me to let her drive home from her gymnastics practice last night. My first thought was “No way!” but then I realized she’ll never learn to drive if I don’t let her behind the wheel. What good is driver’s ed. if she never gets to practice what she’s learning? She also had [...]

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Driver’s ed.

My daughter took her first driver’s ed. class yesterday. Now she’s quizzing me on arcane facts like if I’m travelling at 50 miles per hour, how many feet in advance of a turn do I signal my intent to turn? I guessed 50 feet. (Answer: 300 ft.) Okay– so I flunked. I told her most [...]

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