“Are you there God? It’s me Margaret”

Going through puberty is one thing….. watching your child go through puberty is another. It’s always a challenge to figure out if “are they faking this stomach pain?” “Am i giving in too easily?” There’s not a rule book to follow or instructions when it comes to parenting. Sometimes it’s the flip of a coin… 50/50 chance you’re gambling that you are right and doing the right thing. Of course Girls and Boys are different when it comes to puberty. I have the pleasure of watching both. My son shows it with his mood in small waves. My daughter shows it through drama…exaggeration…moodiness… sassy…bitchy.. etc.. etc.. No wonder they write books called “women from mars.. men from venus”. As much as we women want to think men are the “outsiders” or “alien to us” we’re alien to them. With all the greatness women bring, baggage follows. This is what makes us so special. My daughter doesn’t want me to bother her and she wants her “alone time” but yet i’m not allowed to leave the house without her and i’m on a time clock for when i return back home. Return to what you ask? return to moodiness. I know how difficult it is on my daughter going through this change. Not knowing what is coming, or what to expect. Not really at the mental capacity to truly appreciate and understand what this means. “Puberty”. It’s a medical term. I would call it “Game on World”. The first step towards vulnerability and responsibility for your own body. Awareness of your true self and the journey into learning who you are and what you want. A journey that will continue for the rest of her life. She will question and continue to look for improvements in her life. The rush of things i think i need to prepare her for but yet do not want to overwhelm her. As a Mother or Father raising a prepubescent young girl is a challenge. Knowing the amount of information that is needed is a challenge within the challenge. And so here it begins the next chapter of parenthood. You must remember, our responsibility as parents is to prepare these little people how to be human. How to be a contributing member of society. A decent person. A truthful person. A survivor. We would all love to live in a fairy tale and keep them believing in fairy tales, but life will come hitting hard soon and we as parents need to prepare them on how to stand on their own and be the best person they can be. Sometimes we are the first ones they go to when they are going through this “event”. In my case, it was Judy Bloom. She pretty much got me through most of my teenage years. 2020 is another thing and perhaps not as applicable. This can be argued. So i decided to focus on Today. Just tell her she is not alone in this and no matter what i love her. Because of that love, i will always only guide her with the best interest in mind. Tomorrow is another day that is not in our control. But today is within our control. So Let’s figure out how to work through this Today and Tomorrow we will face it together.