Fifteen years ago, I knew one day Travis and I would be in this place: the parents of teenagers. I knew, also, that it would be hard. I very vividly remember being a teenager, and I KNOW how hard it must have been to raise me. (I have profusely and profoundly apologized to my mother this week for every difficult thing I did!) I suppose I just didn't realize HOW hard it was going to be. Last Thursday, Erin had her first "for-real" teenage episode. She woke up claiming not to feel good (which happens a bit, actually) and her very mean, very strict mom made her go to school anyway. This was apparently the final straw for her, and she decided it would be better to run away then have to live in her own tyrannical home. She walked nine hours in a pair of plastic flip-flops, until - after a myriad of adventures - she was brought home by the police. Hmmm, I wonder who she takes after?!? I, of course, am claiming that her stubbornness comes from Travis! Needless to say, it's been an eye-opening week here for all of us. The one comfort I am taking from all of this, though, is that when we get her through to adulthood, she is going to be one powerful, incredible woman. I just hope I'm granted the fortitude to make it through!
4 comments:
omgosh! 9 hours!?!?!?! And those flips flops! whoa! love tha bandaids on them! sorry - i know this was probably stressful, but I admit this post did give me a slight chuckle!
This should make you chuckle even more... the last thing I said to her Thursday morning was "You should wear your Chuck's (Converse shoes, for those not in the know) because they'd look better with that outfit." And the first thing I said to her Thursday night... "You should have worn your Chuck's, like I said."
Oh Toni!!! When my girls are teenagers I am sending them to your house. You'll be a pro having just gone thru it right?!? I love that you told her she should've worn her chuck's! You are a good momma! I don't think it's so bad she has so much Trav in her... he turned out pretty good after all! We love you guys!
ERIN, We love you. Nine hours walking? how many miles did you log? If you were old enough to drive, nine hours would have gotten you almost to our house. And if you thought your parents were strict . . . Did you know that Pioneer children sang as they walked and walked and walked and walked? What were you singing? Toni and Trav we feel for you and we hope you'll keep your sense of humor . . . both of you turned out FANTASTIC, So will SHE, in fact she already is . . . We think you should frame the flip flops, bandaids and all!
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