Bridging the Teenage Years

Our sixteen-year-old daughter, Janette, is diligently working toward crossing the bridge into adulthood. According to the psychology books, an adult sees the "big picture" and understands that he or she isn’t the sun around which the universe revolves.

This summer, Janette has a job at a local frozen yogurt shop. Part of the job includes training sessions and going to bed at a reasonable hour so she can get to work on time. Here is a note, quoted exactly, that demonstrates some of the hurdles faced by parents AND teenagers during the transition years:

"Hey, Mom and Dad,

I have a training thing on Overland at 1:00 p.m. so it is IMPERATIVE that a car is here for my escortation to Overland! Also, PLEASE see that I am awake by 10:30 a.m. because I have lots to do before I leave for Overland at 12:30! Thank-you! Love always, Janette"

To be sure . . . she received the wake-up call on schedule, and the car was available at the appointed hour. She also received, free of charge, the lecture on going to bed at a decent hour so that she could avoid assigning duties to OTHER ADULTS that could be delegated to an alarm clock.

Janette did such a good job at the training sessions that in less than a month, her boss promoted her to the position of supervisor. As the supervisor of a frozen yogurt shop, Janette is qualified to make a ba-zillion delectable yogurt concoctions, manage the behavior of workers on her shift, keep a steady stream of customers happy at the drive-thru window, smile for seven hours through braces that were just readjusted, wash a sinkful of dishes and sterilize all the equipment for tomorrow’s business.

I’m impressed. I’m particularly impressed because I believe this is the same individual who has difficulty scrubbing the sink out in her bathroom once a week.