This has been the learning pattern of my life:
Years 0-5: confidence and discovery
Years 6-14: uncertainty
Years 14-19: I'm smarter than my parents.
Years 20-29: I know everything.
Years 30-39: I was an idiot when I was in my twenties, NOW I know everything.
Years 40-49: I know nothing.
So the big question is: Do I ever get to be smart again? Or is being stupid obligatory ever more after a person has teenagers?
I have to admit there is something illuminating, humbling and not just a little demoralizing about watching my cherished, fawned over babies become independent teenagers who are more than willing to shed childhood to become separate beings from their parents. Who gave them the idea they have minds of their own anyway? Rats. That would be me. What was I thinking????? I'm going to unleash these kids onto the world? Thinking for themselves??!!?? AAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!! (Guess it's a good thing they already know it all.)
What is this anyway? Didn't I already live through the teen years? Why do my kids have to do it too? Isn't there some kind of way to zap them over them? Can we skip those years and go straight to grand-babies? I mean seriously, there's a pot of gold at the end of this rainbow right?
