What Moms Do [Teenage Version]

A friend from church wrote a delightful post "What Moms Do" (read it here). While I have definitely been there, the details change a little when you're dealing with teenagers instead of little people. So here's my version.

Ever wonder what moms do?
This morning I got up. I enjoyed the time to wake up quietly because the menfolk were already off to work and the daughter was getting herself breakfast and packing her lunch. I then embarked on my day -- which included dropping off my youngest at school because she can't drive quite yet, then a laptop and mountain of book work. If I'm lucky, I might get a few hours where everyone else is gone simultaneously and I can work in peace & quiet. Somewhere in the midst of things, is a not-so-secret-anymore-but-still-all-mine stash of chocolate to fortify oneself on hectic days. 
That's what moms do.

The other members of the household return one by one- right on que! This one settles down to do homework, that one takes off again to go here or there. I stand in the midst of the whirlwind trying to keep track of who is coming and who is going and when will they be coming back and who will be here for the next meal. "Mom, can you get my check ready to go to the bank?" "Mom, does this pan of bars look done?" "Mom, do I have any clean jeans?" "Mom, can I go to ___'s house?"  "Mom, do I have enough money to get ____?"  "Mom, do we have anything going next weekend?"  "Where am I supposed to be going?" [no kidding- real life text]
That's what moms do.

Tonight, when the last member straggles in (past parental bedtime), we will stay up till 1am working through the mysteries and heartaches of being a teenager trying to find one's way in life. Discussing deep things like 'Am I valued for who I am?' or 'Where do I fit in the youth group?' or 'How do I keep my cool when I'm in charge and no one listens?' or 'Why do people think because I have disability I don't have any feelings/am stupid?' There are job woes and broken hearts, social pecking orders and crushes, texting etiquette to be taught and funny stories from one's day begging to be shared and laughed over, reminders it's time for a haircut -again, encouragement to fill the gaps in one's life with God-honoring things, reminders someone must be told where you are going when you leave because (a) it's good practice for the future when your spouse will expect you to be in the habit, (b) we need to know where to look for you if you end up in a ditch unconscious, and (c) we love you and worry about you. Regular assurances 'we love you. No. matter. what.' Or more importantly, GOD loves you no. matter. what. There is great wisdom in the quote 'To decide to become a parent is to decide to forever after have your heart go walking around outside your body'. There are short nights when one cries & floods heaven with prayers in a feeble attempt to fix your children's problems, and other nights when one sighs & smiles with contentment because life is good.  

When at last, all are safely in bed, I think I'll remove the biggest candy bar from my stash, and eat it. All. Then write peanut butter cups on the grocery list. (The big ones, not the bite-sized.) 
Sometimes moms do that too!