During each of my pregnancies, I faced relentless nausea. It wasn’t unusual for me to pull over on the side of the road to vomit or to dash out of a classroom filled with seventh graders, leaving them unattended while I rushed to the teacher’s lounge. One particularly rough day, a fellow educator and seasoned mom shared this nugget of wisdom: “You think this is rough? Just wait until they hit their teenage years.”
Surprisingly, not only did her words not ease my discomfort, they also turned out to be quite off the mark. I now have three teenagers and one pre-teen at home. Sure, our living room is often overflowing with the sounds of loud music, we don’t have enough seats for movie nights, and my grocery bill could rival a small restaurant’s. Yet, despite these minor inconveniences, having teenagers has its upsides.
Here are seven unexpected perks I’ve discovered while navigating this stage of parenthood:
- Personal Tech Support: I struggled with our television remote for over a year, but a five-minute tutorial from my son finally cracked the code. Now, I’m not just a TV user; I’m also fluent in emoji! My kids can fix my computer glitches and help me navigate my smartphone with ease. What a world we live in!
- A Built-In Designated Driver: With my teens behind the wheel, I can enjoy a stress-free dinner out, savoring that second margarita without worrying about bathroom breaks or napkin games. Cheers to that!
- A Small Army of Helpers: Not only can my teenagers drive, but they can also run errands. From picking up their younger sibling from sports to grocery shopping, they’re a tremendous help. This gives me more time to prepare meals for their growing appetites—definitely a win-win!
- Netflix Companions: With two daughters, I always have someone to binge-watch romantic comedies with. Plus, I can delve into John Green novels, claiming it’s for the sake of fostering deeper conversations with my kids. Sounds reasonable, right?
- Fashion Advisors on Call: Without my teenagers’ keen eyes on my outfits, who knows how many style faux pas I would commit? Thanks to their feedback, I can avoid major fashion blunders and step out with confidence.
- Household Friends: While I maintain my role as their parent, my teens possess fantastic senses of humor and wit. It’s hard not to enjoy their company—even if I’m not trying to be “the cool mom.” As long as they follow the rules, I can appreciate our friendship.
I haven’t crossed paths with the teacher from that fateful day in the lounge for quite some time; she retired years ago. If I were to see her, I’d gladly share that not only do my kids not make me feel queasy, but most days, having teenagers is genuinely enjoyable.
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In summary, while the teenage years come with challenges, they also offer unexpected joys and benefits that make this phase of family life rewarding.
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