I have always hated stereotypes about parenting. It is amazing how fatalistic our culture can be about this topic? “You’re having a girl?! Oh, boy. Watch out!”… yeah, thanks a lot for that one.
The reason I bring this up in this birthday post is because one of the last of these we were able to disprove by personal example is the “Oh boy, just wait until they are a teenager!” Trinity is finally at the age where I can say that this stereotype, like so many others, is an awful lie that should be hated with a fiery passion.
Well ok, so maybe that is going a bit far. The truth is that all of these stereotypes come from a small kernel of truth that is then given a fatalistic conclusion. Teenagers go through, without any approval process by the parent, a natural God-given multi-year transition so that they can begin the process of being ready to be out from under their parent’s direct care eventually. Neither the child or the parent is fully ready for this and, like all change, it is challenging… but at its core it is a beautiful thing and nothing you can’t handle.
I will write more about this in the future of course, posts on things like the beautiful relationship Christina and Trinity have and many other topics, but for now I bring it up because Trinity has arrived at the point where I can encourage you that IT IS POSSIBLE to do this transition well and it is a wonderful season plus a huge privilege to fill this role in your child’s life.
Trinity is responsible, beautiful, incredibly smart, deeply spiritual, loving, genuine and all around amazing. We are so proud of her and, like with all birthdays, we celebrate just how glad we are that she is here and that God chose us to guide along this journey. Happy birthday Trinity.