My daughter turned 13 last month and it made me realize several things. First Red Robin is a cool place to give a birthday luncheon for teens. The second thing I realized is I am officially a mother of three teenagers. What does this mean for me? I think it means that my children are old enough to do things on their own and they need to start making more decisions with only guidance from me. I cannot tell them what to do with the mindset of "because I said so." Their future and what they make of it, is up to them. I can continue to protect them but sometimes they need to fall so they can pick themselves back up. I have tried to loosen the choke hold little by little but sometimes I still think I am afraid and maybe it is time loosen it a little more. I will always be there for them and they know that but it is time. This leads me to the last thing I realized. It is time for me to get a life of my own. This includes meeting someone who makes me smile and want to be with me, finishing school (in progress) and preparing myself for my future outside of Chattanooga (also in progress). I have several prospects for dating but after being out of the game for more than 10 years, it is so hard to know what is expected and what I should expect from someone. Is it still a game at 40? Because I am more secure in myself, how do I know when it is right to take a relationship further? I mean, I know if I want to continue to talk with someone because of rule number one. Rule #1 - if a man cannot hold my attention with simple conversation then, he cannot get my attention any other way. I know I am not the same person before marriage and I can honestly say I have matured. I like to talk because you learn a lot about a person when you talk to them and conversation can be stimulating.
These are the realizations I have had since my daughter turned 13. Happy Birthday, Anne & thanks for teaching me to live.
