I’ve been holding on to this picture since John’s sweet sixteen. I knew I’d eventually share it when the time was right.
This is my counter full of cards from John’s teenage friends on his last birthday. And, 10 months later, it still nearly brings me to tears to look at it.
You see, I think that teenagers get a bad rap. I was just reading a post in a local group about them. In fact, I read a lot of them. Every time I want to shout from the rooftop that we shouldn’t stereotype a generation based on past generations, personal behavior, or one bad apple. Instead, I’ll just tell y’all how much I adore the teenagers in my life.
On John’s birthday, his friends arrived with cards (yes, even the one that reads “son” was from a friend). Store bought cards, cards they probably found in their mom’s stash and cards they hand made. Inside each and every one was paragraph upon paragraph of kindness, joy, jokes and care, drawings, scrawlings and signatures. They were wonderful – a true gift – and, to be honest, unexpected from this digital generation. Once his birthday had passed, I tied them with a ribbon and put them in his memory box alongside baby bibs, mementos, photos and awards.
The teens that I have the pleasure to know are amazing kids. They work hard, they are loyal to each other, they are polite, and they are kind. They carry on intelligent and provoking discussions about world events, their studies, sports and pop culture. But they are also as funny as can be, constantly making each other – and any adult nearby – laugh til it hurts. There is no better sound than the pure, unadulterated laughter of a child. Nearly every single teen I know works and volunteers on top of sports and school. Their ability to accept others and refrain from judgment is awe-inspiring and being around them makes me be a better person too. I am SO proud of my teens and am incredibly grateful for their friends.
These kids are our future. Let’s not criticize and belittle them. Let’s listen to them, love them, lead them and respect them. I *think* that’s really all they want.
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