Everyone is quick to offer pearls of wisdom for the baby years, and words of sympathy when that baby seemingly overnight turns into a teen … but no one really talks about what happens right before. Specifically, the tween years.
They’re an introduction to the teen years, a reminder to enjoy what’s left of childhood, and also a call to action — get it together mama because if you think your hands are full now…
As the mom of a 10-year-old girl, I’m currently navigating those murky tween waters. Some days, I struggle to stay afloat. Others, I don’t want it to end. Here’s what no one told me about the tween years:
1. Empty nest syndrome starts long before they move out. My kid is still here and some days I already miss her terribly.
2. They will make a bad choice and suddenly, you’ll be afraid for their future (trust me, it’s not that bad. We are all more than a single bad choice.).
3. You’ll wish you tried harder in school … middle school math is no joke. And now that you’ve got a middle or almost high-school aged kid, it feels like the joke is on you.
4. People will say that your kid is lucky to have you, but you’ll know that it’s just the opposite.
5. It’s been many years since they were babies and you’re still asking time to slow down.
6. You’ll forgo sleep to check on them each night. You need to make sure they didn’t kick the covers off and kiss them just one more time.
7. Your heart will melt when they reach for your hand or kiss you. You’ll thank your lucky stars they haven’t entirely outgrown parental public displays of affection.
See the full list of Things No One Tells You About Parenting a Tween over at Babble.
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Viva la Violette