Well, one of my sons is turning fifteen today, which means he is eligible to get a driver’s permit. Everyone has been warned–clear the roads!!!

It is quite surreal to me to have two kids in high school, mostly because I still think of myself as being pretty close to their age. I forget that i just don’t look seventeen any more. I feel like I am very cool and with it. In fact I am not. Still, I sometimes have to pinch myself to remember that I am O.L.D. to these kids–I am, in fact, their uncool mother.

I remember way back when we were “into” the Ezzo materials, hearing Gary talk about stages of parenting. The goal was to loosen the boundaries more and more, so that by the time your kids were teens, you were parenting more as a coach. Almost a friend. (One thing I happen to agree with by Ezzo.) And it’s funny–sure, I have to set some boundaries. Occasionally privileges are removed. But I am seeing a friendship develop with DS15, and I love it!

Back when I was a new mom of a few little boys, I remember thinking that if my sons would turn out like my best high school buddy, Johnny, I would be so happy. Johnny was smart, funny, and well-liked by everyone. He was in the National Honor Society, and he played a few sports. He wasn’t the top of our class, he wasn’t a star athlete. But he was active and involved in the life of our school and was just one of those all around great guys. (He and I are still in touch, and he is still a great guy!!)

Two things that Johnny used to do when we were teenagers were to make me laugh to the point of tears, so I would have to fan my eyes, and say outrageous things that would make me have to reach out and smack him. Yes, I used to hit my friend, Johnny. He always deserved it.

A few weeks ago, I was driving along with then DS14 sitting beside me, and he said something outrageous. I reached my right hand out instinctively to punch his arm, and stopped. Oh my goodness! It was like I was taken back to high school–I was enjoying DS15 in the same way I always enjoyed Johnny. As a really great friend. And that is something I love–in spite of the twenty-five year age difference, my teenager is becoming my friend.

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DS15 is spending his birthday on a bus. His chorus will be travelling to Birmingham for the state choral competition. A select group (including DS15) will continue on to Atlanta where they will be singing the National Anthem at the start of the Atlanta Braves baseball game. He will return at 2:00 am. I vote that DH gets to pick him up, don’t you? If you can tune in the Braves game on ESPN or Fox SportsSouth, flip it on just before game time, and you might catch his group!