Approaching 18!

It's summer.  A happy time of the year where the mornings are slow, afternoons are slower and life is somehow better on every level possible.  Good time to update my little blog.

We are on the countdown to age 18.  It seemed like such an important age back in the day.  I'm not sure that it really holds much value anymore. He can't do that much more than at age 17.  He can legally smoke, vote and buy scratch offs!  On that note, I asked him if he was excited to turn 18. Answer: Yes.  I asked "Why"? Answer: I'll have the freedom.  I asked "Freedom for what"?  Answer: Well, I'll be living here and going to school still so nothing really.

He walked away after that last sentence so... that wrapped up that conversation!

My big wonder is if other parents (foster, bio, adopted) have the same problems with getting a conversation out of their sons.  I've given up on the common tug of war parent/kid issues.  Wear whatever to bed, clean your room whenever (three cheers for Febreze), go to sleep when you fall asleep.  It's the communication piece that I can't, I won't, I don't want to, let go.  I read an online article from Psychcology Today that suggested I give my teenage son advanced notice of wanting to communicate. The article also recommended to feed my teenage son before trying to communicate. Time and food.  Who knew that's where I was going wrong all this time. I'll leave him a note on the kitchen table tonight. "Let's communicate over a bowl of cocoa puffs around high noon.  Bring some insights and have some answers."

Perhaps this communication issue is a lot like summer.  It is going to be on a slow speed progression. It's all about adjusting to the time, to the age, and to the situation.

Thanks for reading.