My Teenage Son Is In Love……HELP!

It was bound to happen sooner or later right?. Ok, so I was hoping for later, but it was inevitable. It happens to all teenagers, yep it even happened to me, so why would my son be any different?

My teenage son has fallen in love!

It’s true! As much as I am in denial about it, it is so plainly obvious, and there is no denying it. We have managed to get him to 16 before it happened so I guess I should be thankful for that. But as his old Mum, I am not ready. I am not ready for teenage emotions and all that entails. I am not ready for sleepless nights worrying about him, and I am not ready to lose him to another female. But really, will I ever be ready?

I have tried over the years to prepare myself. You know, go through different scenarios in my head, about how I would react to such news. I have even practiced my happy face when inside my heart is screaming “NOOOOO, He’s my baby!” I try and be the grown-up parent and not react like she really is stealing my baby from right under my nose, but right now I don’t want to be the grown-up parent and I don’t want to lose my son! Breathe Kathy, just breathe! This happens to all parents at some stage and if they can cope, so can you! You can do this! Put on your big girl pants and just breathe!!!

But, I have so many questions swirling around in my head:
Will he still love me as much?
Will she take up all his time?
Have we taught him how to treat her right?
Will I be completely forgotten?
Will I ever recover from this?

But in my heart of hearts, I know we have brought him up well and I know we have equipped him as well as we can to cope with the real world. So I need to trust in what we have done, trust in God, and trust Jackson! He’s a good kid with a good head on his shoulders so I know (and pray) he will always do the right thing.

It’s that whole thing about letting the baby bird fly from the nest. A Mother bird does all she can and then it’s up to that baby bird to spread their wings and fly. I want Jackson to fly, really I do, but it’s hard letting go of the apron strings, or as in the case of the bird, let him spread his wings and fly on his own. Surely, I could just keep him in the nest for another 10 years…...yep, 26 seems a good age for a baby bird to fly, right? Ok, ok, I know 26 is a little old (I think Phil will have kicked him out well before then!) but 16? What does anyone know at 16?

Ok God, we can do this! I know you have been preparing me for this. Sure, there may be a couple of tears along the way (from me, not Jackson that is!), but I will survive this!

Yes, Jackson is in love.
And I am so thankful the object of his affections (at the moment) is his new car! One step at a time, Kathy, one step at a time…