It really tickles me no end that my son is finally going to be a Father and be able to watch and guide a little guy that I hope will be just like him and for sure it will serve him right. Maybe then he can understand what it’s truly like to be a parent and finally understand that you don’t say no just because your a mean Mommy that never wants her kids to have any fun. You say no because you are trying to keep them safe.

If your around my age then I’m sure you probably will remember what it was like to raise teenagers.  It’s like they suddenly change into someone else and go into some weird 4th dimension at age 13 and stay there until they have kids of their own and then you may start seeing them turn back into someone you know. I know it’s not easy being young, but I honestly don’t remember being so sullen and hateful to my elders as I see young people being now.

I have Grandchildren from Bill’s kids and I truly love them just as much as I will one with my blood. Of course my son is the type that thinks he has all the answers and his children will be unlike he was so I’ll just wait and watch and no I wont really be wishing them to be bad just so he can see what I had to deal with when he was young. But from children I have watched grow up over the years they all seem to go into that weird phase.

Actually teenagers really aren’t uncommunicative and they really are looking for someone to talk with about the changes that are going on in their young lives. Those teen years are so full of change that it’s like an explosion and is unparalleled with anything in this life. They really need an adult to talk to and it’s usually not the parents they turn to at that age because we the parents are considered ignorant for some reason.

So if we the parent can’t be that person they can turn to as a teenager then they do need to find an adult they can talk to, that would help them in getting through those tough teen years. A lot of times Grandma or Grandpa can become that willing ear and someone who a teenager can talk to about all those changes that are eating them up inside. I have seen that the Grandparents are considered as great and wise and someone they can talk to, I love it.

I know as Grandparents Bill and I will be more than happy to keep communication lines open as I’m sure all you other Grandparents will be doing and I really hope most will have the understanding, common sense and wisdom like Bill does. I have never meet anyone like Bill in my whole entire life and he did a really great job with his kids. I wish I could say the same, my son blamed me for his birth and everything bad that ever happened in his life up until a couple years ago (he’s 38).

Bill is one of the few parents I have ever met that actually didn’t have problems with his kids. He was either very lucky and blessed or he just had great parenting skills. Kids today are use to communicating through email, instant messaging and texting. I remember how thrilled I use to be to see a card or letter in the mail from someone I love, but the kids today don’t realize what a thrill that is.

I’m sure I should make time to start sending them snail mail just to make sure they know we are always around and love them and I know that would be a novelty to actually receive something in the mail of their own, but also since I’m online and when they start using the Internet we can always IM and keep the communication open that way.

They are still babies yet so we have a way to go before all those scary changes start occurring, but we need to start early so they will know we are here and we will listen. I’m sure Nate already understands that at 5 and we have noticed already that he is nicer at our house than at his own and always nicer when his parents aren’t around. He will soon have a baby sister (he wanted a brother) so it will be interesting to watch the changes in attitude and communication.