Being on the verge of her teen years means that Ashlyn spends a good deal of time in her room. If she isn't in her room she can usually be found watching Dr. Who on her phone or listening to music. At first I was concerned that something was wrong or that she was hiding away from us because of some deep rooted family issue. However, as my brother recently pointed out, I myself was somewhat reclusive during my teen years and it's probably not that big of a deal. He's right. I may not have had an iPhone at my fingertips but I made due with my diskman, CD collection and headphones. I also spent a good deal of time closed off in my room (that is, if my mom hadn't taken my door off of the hinges for slamming it one too many times).
I believe it is important not to be too pushy but I do make sure to keep an open dialogue with Ashlyn. She knows that she can come to me at any time, day or night, and I will be there to listen, pray with her and give her biblical advice.
It really is an amazing privilege to witness your children growing up. If you look closely you can see glimpses of the person they will become; their values, their sense of humors, their passions, their true character. I can't really pinpoint when it was that they grew up and began to have actual conversations with me. Not the conversations we had when they were infants and it was one sided, Chris and I speaking to them so they could learn and pickup language. Not the conversations of their toddler years where we were peppered with "whys" and preciously mispronounced words. Now we have actual real life conversations where they ask hard questions and the answers often require more than just life experience. They are difficult but wonderful at the same time. I am so thankful for the relationship that I have with my kids and that they feel confident enough to come and ask me the hard questions.
Until the next deep conversation, there is always Dr. Who.
I believe it is important not to be too pushy but I do make sure to keep an open dialogue with Ashlyn. She knows that she can come to me at any time, day or night, and I will be there to listen, pray with her and give her biblical advice.
It really is an amazing privilege to witness your children growing up. If you look closely you can see glimpses of the person they will become; their values, their sense of humors, their passions, their true character. I can't really pinpoint when it was that they grew up and began to have actual conversations with me. Not the conversations we had when they were infants and it was one sided, Chris and I speaking to them so they could learn and pickup language. Not the conversations of their toddler years where we were peppered with "whys" and preciously mispronounced words. Now we have actual real life conversations where they ask hard questions and the answers often require more than just life experience. They are difficult but wonderful at the same time. I am so thankful for the relationship that I have with my kids and that they feel confident enough to come and ask me the hard questions.
Until the next deep conversation, there is always Dr. Who.
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