And Then We Had a Teenager

Once upon a time, I had a baby - a tiny, beautiful little girl who charmed all who met her.

And today, she becomes a teenager.

I guess I should be shocked this day has come - "How did she grow up so fast?" And yet, Aimee has always  seemed rather grown up. These milestones in her life rarely catch me by surprise, as, mature beyond her years, she always seems more than ready for them. I think it doesn't overwhelm her to be a teenager now, neither with trepidation nor with an abundance of excitement. It's a special birthday, of course, but she's never had a longing to be steeped in teen culture, and I love that she isn't. She's smart and savvy, friendly and outgoing - she can mingle with her peers and enjoy outings designed for their age group. But she also knows she's just a girl, growing into a young woman and making her place in a much larger tapestry. When she does things like volunteer to spend a weekend working in Oklahoma with her dad - leaving her friends, her electronics, her books, her leisure time - I am always so proud of her. And a little in awe (she doesn't get the willingness to make spontaneous decisions about hopping in a van and driving overnight to work all weekend from me!).

I do see some of me in her, of course. She loves good books and she loves to write. I love that as as has grown and matured, we've been able to discuss things like writing and our favorite books on a closer level. These past few months, it's been like having a ready-made book club in the house! We read and discuss young adult dystopian and fantasy novels, sure, but we've also discussed things like Les Miserables and the works of Jane Austen, because Aimee, with her eclectic tastes, is just nifty that way. And it's just nifty to spend time talking and sharing with her, of course. Her arrival into the teen years has brought us closer, rather than driven the too-common and too-sad generational wedge that is supposed to be a hallmark of this time in a child's life. 

Adolescence comes with its challenges, of course, both for her and for us as parents. Aimee isn't immune, and we're not perfect parents. But, just as she takes this thirteenth birthday in stride, we don't fear it or the teen years ahead. Those years and birthdays are just numbers, marking her growth and maturity, rather than her descent into some suspended and mystical state of life in which she has all the fun she can and she finds her way apart from us while we bite our nails in fear. We will encourage her to enjoy her youth, certainly, but we will also "spur her on toward love and good deeds" as she grows into who she was created to be. And we'll enjoy this great person and friend who is emerging out of that tiny baby we once held. 

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Love you, Aimee Perrine! Happy 13th Birthday!