Parenting teenagers is hard.  14 can be painful, for us and for him.  It’s a time of self discovery, learning the ways of the world, figuring things out.  The challenges are bigger, the lessons stronger, the disappointments more painful.  I am thankful for who he is, and all that he’s learning.  I’m thankful he doesn’t take everything at face value, that he soaks it all in and forms his own valuable opinions.  His views and opinions can be vastly different than many his age, because he’s been through a lot in his first 14 years.  I’m proud that he stands up for what he believes, that he embraces his differences, even when it’s difficult.  I heard this on the radio […]