Welcome to the Land of Teen

We have recently chosen to thrust ourselves into the world of "parenting" a teenager. I did not expect to be here for another 12 years, but there it is. You know how when you are growing up you vow never to be like your parents were? (Okay, maybe that was just me.) So, it stings a little bit as I hear myself saying or thinking about saying some of the exact same phrases that were used on me. For example: In my youth I recall being harped on for leaving the lights in my bedroom blazing away. So much so that I even had my light bulb removed from my bedroom at one point. What cruel and unusual punishment! Fast forward to today...I think in my head: "if she doesn't start turning the lights off, I am going to just take her lightbulb away!" OH NO! It has begun.