Life Stages

My Poobs and Me. Sweet Sixteen @ Disneyland

I'm talking with my boy, Ray, on the bus the other day about being a parent.We always swap Father stories when we see each other.
Ray has a son who isn't even 10 years old.Yet, you would think his son is a teenager based on the things that he's told me in the past.His son is a "little man".
There's a good feeling that comes with age...it's called experience. Experience allows you teach anyone anything whether they been through it or not.People ask you a question and you can blab for hours, if you're like that, about what you've encountered in YOUR life. I love that.

Anyway, we get to talking  about the " Circle of Life". I tell him EVERYONE goes through the same shizz.

• You're kid looks up to you from birth to nine/ ten years old.You are their hero.Pretty much everything you do as a parent is cool, at this age.What you wear, how you walk, all that is what they want to do.You are a big person that they want to emulate.Except during this time when they start kindergarten, they feel like you don't know a damn thing.
• The Tweens cycle kicks in and they feel like they are grown because they're are 2 numbers in their age.They're not so grown as to start REALLY mouthing off.They will try, though.At this point they do things to see how far they can go with you.
• They become a teen, and now you they want to show you they're grown.Cursing behind your back.Cursing you out under their breath...like you can't hear them.They don't heed warnings.They attempt to do what they want.You, the parent, are just a financial resource.Someone to give them a shoulder to cry or "adult"advice.Someone to go to because their "peeps" aren't around.

He can't wait for his son to get to this stage, so they can play/talk with each other.That's when I had to let him know."You ain't nobody".He actually thinks that he will be able to talk to his TEEN SON. I laughed in my head when declared this.

He figured that he'll still have a grip on his son's life. He THINKS he will have his son do whatever he says and it will go as planned. Maybe I'm crazy , but I know better than that. I've had my hand in raising 3 girls through ALL of these stages.One just graduated college, while another one graduates from high school.One will graduate from college next year.I've been there and done that. Blood.Sweat.Tears.I did/ do the best I can.

Is it just me?