He’s 13 going on Pain-in-My-A**. He’s got way too much–everything, attitude, brevity, curiosity, personality, opinion, EVERYTHING; to make it to 14 without lots of bumps, scrapes and bruises along the way. But, To My Teenage Son: I got you. Just so you know.
To My Teenage Son: I got you.
- You have everyone fooled. Yeah, they all think you’re tough. Or mean. Or cool. Or whatever it is that you want them to think about you. You’ve got this whole persona built-up that intimidates others. But not me. I got you. I know exactly how you feel. You’re scared. And I got you, son. You don’t need to be scared with me. I understand.
- You are smarter than everyone else. Oh, there are a TON of people out there that you are smarter than. Because you are really smart. You put this face out there that you are reading at a college-level and that you can do all this math that trouble most adults. You wear it like a badge and rub it in other people’s faces. But I know better. I know what you’re thinking. You think you’re not smart at all. And I got you, son. You don’t have to prove you’re smart to me. I know you are.
- You are angry at me and the world. Too many times, there’s been yelling, cursing, and even physical violence from you. You use people like punching bags. But I know what you’re doing. I got you. You’re desperate to hurt others before they hurt you. You don’t need to do that with me, though. I won’t hurt you, I swear that with all my heart.
- You don’t let anything hurt you. But that’s not true. You’re hurting all the time because your past is too heavy for your narrow shoulder to bear. And I got you. Let me shoulder some of that burden with you, son. That’s what moms are for.
You carry your history and adoption like a brutal badge of dishonor. You tell people your painful, difficult story at the drop of a hat. Even though it hurts when you say the words. I did the same thing, though my story is not as brutal and sad. But I did. Because I was your age once, though I’m sure that’s hard for you to understand. At the end of the day, my child, my heart, I got you, son. And I think that, one day, you’ll totally get me. Because I know you love me, just as I love you. And, one day, we’ll be on the same page about that.
