The journey of a teenager.

[lucie]

Hello to all of you, who has the chance to have a teenager in your life, whether he/she is your child or a neice/nephew or just a neighbour...

I'm the mother of two teenagers~~François (16) and Mathieu (14)....and I'm not moderator of *Genration Gap* because I'm an expert on the subject! lol...of far from it!....

I see myself as begining a journey with my sons in a world I have left many years ago....my teen years are far behind me....

I feel I am constantly learning along the way....
I see my sons growing and I realize that they are becoming who they are destined to become....I have put all my energy to raise them as well as I could, but now I see they are slowly chosing their path, which is not always the one I thought would be for them....

I am learning, too, that I need to trust...
I need to trust my sons...
I need to trust their decisions, even if it hurts me...
I need to trust God that He is there guiding them in their life...

---I realized that when your son is 16 and almost 6 feet and you cannot follow him around all day to be sure he is doing the right choices---Trust and prayer; I need.

Well, I hope to learn in this journey with my teen age sons and with you....

[ellise]

Hi Lucie, I know what you are feeling dear one.
I have my Daniel who is my pride and joy especially since he is all I have left.

Daily life for most Teens is a struggle, and all we can really do is be there for them when they stumble and fall. Trust in God for He know what destiny awaits all of us.

I trust most all of Daniel's decisions, he is a good kid and still very cautious. I am by NO means saying that he is always right in his decisions but he has to learn and he has to learn from his mistakes, hard as that sounds.

I too am learning, but I am also teaching from my own experiences as a teenager. Letting him know what is out there and that the dangers are real.

I have so many teens that come to talk to me because they feel they can open up to me and tell me the truth. Just last night one of the guys that was in my class last year came over and we talked until midnight, about everything.
He will be leaving for the Army in July and has so many questions about life in general, he can't talk to his mother because she is too afriad that her husband will leave her if she has anything to do with her son.( I have my opinions on that but whole different topic)
So these boys all call me Momma and it makes me feel good to know that they are concerned enough to talk with an adult about what is going on in their lives.

Ok I'll stop rambling now. Great topic Lucie!

[lucie]

Ellise, I think it's great that teens can open up to you. I also have a good relationship with other teens...but I tend to struggle with my oldest son and it seems that it's getting tenser between me and Mathieu....I am findign it difficult on some days. Sometimes I feel I have no answers or solution. What about you?

[ellise]

Lucie, I had a day like that yesterday! On those days I find it best for me to just go to my room, lock the door and read, sew, or take a nap! I get sooooooo frustrated that I just want to jerk a knot in him sometimes. But I have to remember what life was like when I was his age. I think things are more difficult for the teens today than when we were teens. More peer preasure.

I know he'll come around, honey all I can tell you is continue to love them, give them lots of room to grow and hope for the best. I can't tell you how many times I have screamed out prayer to help me learn to deal wiht my Daniel.

As for my "other kids" I have no problems, I can tell them open heartedly what I think, and how I would feel if something happened to them for making the wrong choice and they usually end up doing the right thing anyway.

Lucie, I am always here if you need to talk, scream, cry, hit (just not too hard) or whatever. Fell free to e-mail me anytime you feel the need.
Love ya bunches
Ellise