"Teenagers, Can You Hear Me?"
January 12th, 2011
As I sat there in my van heading into town with three young teenagers, I kept asking myself, "What was I like at this age?"
This past week was my son Daniel's fourteenth birthday as we celebrated it at home with dinner,cake, and presents. Seems the older they get, all the "hoopla" seems to wind down and they don't seem to mind.
One of my gifts, and to many of you teenagers a everyday thing, was I offered to take him and a couple of friends to the mall that weekend so they could "hang out". The gleam in Daniel's eyes lit up the room, he was so excited!
So excited they were as we headed out Saturday night. I was probably more excited than they were because not only did I get out of the house, but I get to go shopping too! No little ones to run after and the silence of the car ride was golden.
Yes, silence. Here I have three teenage boys with me, thinking the car would be nothing but laughter and teen talk, but "noooo", all is hear is the sound of "beep, beep, beep". Technology at work. Oh, I was talking, it's just no one was listening.
All three of these kids had either a I-touch or phone with heads bowed down practically the whole journey, never uttering a word. Weird. I was never like that I thought to myself as I remember that age. We were grateful for a TV with 3 channels, a dial phone, no computer, and outdoor freedom. So thankful I am.
Spencer, my nephew, who's birthday is one day apart from Daniel's, just got a new phone for his birthday and was texting. He kept getting texts and guess from who? Aiden, who is less than two feet behind him! I couldn't help but laugh as they continued the whole night with this new found fun.
I told them how silly they were and shut those stupid things off and enjoy the night. I asked Daniel how he was doing but he couldn't hear me because he was off in his own world with his new I-touch listening to what I hoped was Beethoven.
As I dropped them off at the mall, I told them I would be right back to join them for dinner at the food court. My son's response, " Does that mean you are going to sit with us too?"
"Oh, I get it, I can take a hint, I said. I will just call you on Aiden's phone when I get back so you know I am here." I gave them my two cents on safety and manners and ran an errand before heading back to the mall with my binoculars and spy-wear.
After walking the mall for what seemed like eternity and 100 miles later, I sat at the children's play area to take a break and call my sister and check on my other three boys she was watching.
As I am talking to her, I see the three teens coming closer. Not yet seeing me, it looked as though Spencer was wearing what I believed to be a football helmet, and yet backwards, as he strolled along big and proud.
I was laughing to Mary over the phone as Daniel turned and put his helmet on too. What a bunch of nerds I thought. Teenagers, gotta love 'em!
I sat a bit longer as a little girl and father kept watching me at the play area. All the time I kept thinking that maybe they thought I was predator because I sat and watched, yet had no kids of my own. Odd moment.
Finally I got up to do another lap and almost three hours in, thankfully they found me and were ready to go home. I could tell they had a great time but were malled out. They said they couldn't wait to do it again!
And those helmets I saw them wearing? They were those helmets with big sucking straws attached where you can place where I thought "beer" would go into on either side as you sit and slurp. Lovely,spending their money wisely I told them. I was glad to see them come home and attach pop to both sides. Yes, I said pop, "I'm from Wisconsin, don't ya know!"
These are the moments in life I cherish. These little things like going to the mall and watching such freedom and independence in your kids. Before you know it, Daniel will be off to college as I head back to the mall with my next son Nickolas and his friends. What will it be like then? I guess we just have to wait and see.
This past week was my son Daniel's fourteenth birthday as we celebrated it at home with dinner,cake, and presents. Seems the older they get, all the "hoopla" seems to wind down and they don't seem to mind.
One of my gifts, and to many of you teenagers a everyday thing, was I offered to take him and a couple of friends to the mall that weekend so they could "hang out". The gleam in Daniel's eyes lit up the room, he was so excited!
So excited they were as we headed out Saturday night. I was probably more excited than they were because not only did I get out of the house, but I get to go shopping too! No little ones to run after and the silence of the car ride was golden.
Yes, silence. Here I have three teenage boys with me, thinking the car would be nothing but laughter and teen talk, but "noooo", all is hear is the sound of "beep, beep, beep". Technology at work. Oh, I was talking, it's just no one was listening.
All three of these kids had either a I-touch or phone with heads bowed down practically the whole journey, never uttering a word. Weird. I was never like that I thought to myself as I remember that age. We were grateful for a TV with 3 channels, a dial phone, no computer, and outdoor freedom. So thankful I am.
Spencer, my nephew, who's birthday is one day apart from Daniel's, just got a new phone for his birthday and was texting. He kept getting texts and guess from who? Aiden, who is less than two feet behind him! I couldn't help but laugh as they continued the whole night with this new found fun.
I told them how silly they were and shut those stupid things off and enjoy the night. I asked Daniel how he was doing but he couldn't hear me because he was off in his own world with his new I-touch listening to what I hoped was Beethoven.
As I dropped them off at the mall, I told them I would be right back to join them for dinner at the food court. My son's response, " Does that mean you are going to sit with us too?"
"Oh, I get it, I can take a hint, I said. I will just call you on Aiden's phone when I get back so you know I am here." I gave them my two cents on safety and manners and ran an errand before heading back to the mall with my binoculars and spy-wear.
After walking the mall for what seemed like eternity and 100 miles later, I sat at the children's play area to take a break and call my sister and check on my other three boys she was watching.
As I am talking to her, I see the three teens coming closer. Not yet seeing me, it looked as though Spencer was wearing what I believed to be a football helmet, and yet backwards, as he strolled along big and proud.
I was laughing to Mary over the phone as Daniel turned and put his helmet on too. What a bunch of nerds I thought. Teenagers, gotta love 'em!
I sat a bit longer as a little girl and father kept watching me at the play area. All the time I kept thinking that maybe they thought I was predator because I sat and watched, yet had no kids of my own. Odd moment.
Finally I got up to do another lap and almost three hours in, thankfully they found me and were ready to go home. I could tell they had a great time but were malled out. They said they couldn't wait to do it again!
And those helmets I saw them wearing? They were those helmets with big sucking straws attached where you can place where I thought "beer" would go into on either side as you sit and slurp. Lovely,spending their money wisely I told them. I was glad to see them come home and attach pop to both sides. Yes, I said pop, "I'm from Wisconsin, don't ya know!"
These are the moments in life I cherish. These little things like going to the mall and watching such freedom and independence in your kids. Before you know it, Daniel will be off to college as I head back to the mall with my next son Nickolas and his friends. What will it be like then? I guess we just have to wait and see.
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