For When You Turn Around and Find a Tween

 

They asked if they could go wandering in the woods together, exploring the new paths Mema and Papa had cleared. I first said “no” because I couldn’t go with them right then. Next came the inevitable familiar response:

“Aww, Mama! Well, when can we go?”

Then it dawned on me that maybe they could {should?} go just by themselves? Just maybe these tween young’uns of mine are old enough to forge those territories without me by their side? I asked my Mama if she thought it was okay, and she said yes, just as long as they kept an eye out for snakes {gulp}.

So off the explorers went, feeling happy as larks and high as kites.

For this Mama, the tween years snuck up on me like an unexpected path in the woods. Sometimes, walking the path brings a sweet surprise like a better view. Sometimes, walking that path brings an unwelcome surprise like a mean ol’ snake. Either way, I am halted in my tracks. The wonder and panic of it are new and unfamiliar.

And since I’ve found few resources that tackle parenting tweens, I would like to get a handle on these inbetween years with you next week. But, I won’t be the only one sharing. I have some A-MAZ-ING writers lined up to lend their words of wisdom. We want to encourage you to be the parent you want to be. We want to encourage you to keep an eye out against the Enemy Snake as you seek to increase God’s presence in the precious lives of your young’uns.

Will you join me next week and share what YOU know or would like to know about these inbetween years?