The Birth of A Teenager

Maybe it's because I remember my own feelings of teenage angst. Maybe it's because the sight and sound of teenagers in public throngs always annoys me. Maybe it's because most people I know say things like, "Just wait until you have teenagers." For whatever reason, I have spent quite a bit of my parenting life worrying and dreading the day my own sons become these terrible things.

Now, I officially have one. A teenager. And I find him delightful.

He certainly can be annoying and troubling and worrisome but no more than his six month, two or seven year-old self ever was. Turns out, I really enjoy the almost adult conversations I get to have with him and his sense of humor and his actually helpful and not secretly slowing me down help.

I'm sure that there will be bumps along the road but I'm so relieved that I have a teenager and I still really like him. All that worry was for nothing. I'm sincerely looking forward to these next five years and I'm going to do my very best to enjoy every day. From the way things have already progressed, I know they'll be gone in a flash.

Now, to remember Seth as a brand new thirteen year old.

He:

• loves the Oklahoma City Thunder basketball team and especially Kevin Durant (he thinks they must have a lot in common because they are both so skinny)
• is constantly shooting "air" shots. It's not even consciously done. 
• Wears a size 10 shoe
• Is 5 ft 8 inches
• consistently makes the school honor roll (although he should get straight As if he would only remember to turn in all of his assignments!!!!)
• is horribly unorganized and quite messy 
• wears braces
• wants to be a basketball player in the NBA when he grows up
• designs custom basketball shoes for fun on nike.com
• torments his brothers
• prefers milkshakes and pancakes above all
• has been battling athletes foot since November (bleech)
• enjoys scouts and YM
• doesn't grumble too much about piano anymore
• likes to watch NBA game time
• doesn't know a lot of music but likes The Script's Hall of Fame featuring Will.I.am
• has run a mile in 6:18 and is hoping for a faster time during this spring's track season
• likes his social studies and video yearbook classes best.

Yes Day Activities Included: 

Lunch at Denny's.  The morning was really slow and I was worried that he wasn't going to have a fun  birthday because there didn't seem to be anything he wanted to do. Finally, I convinced to go on a date with me for lunch because I promised him pancakes.  Unfortunately, for me, the place I had in mind didn't serve their breakfast menu items after 11 so we ended up at Dennys, which was fine with him.

When we got to our driveway, which is 0.2 miles long, Seth asked me if he could drive. It is a scary, scary thing to be in the passenger seat when your child is driving and we never went faster than 5 miles an hour. You just don't know if they know or will forget about that brake pedal! I'm glad we live out in the boonies so he can do stuff like this and it's not too dangerous. 

Grandpa came over in the afternoon to deliver a birthday card from him and Grandma. I love that Seth gets to be close to his grandparents.

What he really wanted was to play basketball. I had sort of forced Sam to go play with him earlier (Sam hates to play with Seth because Seth cannot stop himself from taunting Sam and telling him what to do so Sam inevitably walks away).  Finally, I got in my sneakers and challenged him to a game. I'm so bad! It's hard to believe I played 2 years in high school.

I can't even look up when I dribble.

You can see the difficulty I had playing defense. I had to watch out for more than just Seth's dribble.

I did get a few good shots off.

Ha ha ha ha ha.

Foul!

Fouled him back.

Poor Seth...having to play with his mom.

We got an ice cream cake and Seth wanted to light his own candles.

You can't tell but those candles are in the shape of the KD logo

Good lookin' kid! Ahem...teen.

Doing double duty with my photo taking.

Seth got cards from his grandparents, brother and us. He shows the appropriate amount of enthusiasm when opening each one.

Because this, the thing which enables him to purchase more basketball paraphernalia, was usually inside.

Sam wrote a sweet card.

He got KD Nike Elite socks. I would venture a guess that he owns more socks than any other 13 year old boy on the globe.

He also got a fathead for his room.

Go thunder.  Yes...Seth is kissing his massive bicep.

Peekabo!

Dinner at Abblebees (this was such a nice, easy yes day for me)

Above everything else, he wanted to play basketball at the church on his birthday. We even made sure to be back from Utah in time for him to play. He loves gathering with these men each Thursday night and has improved a great deal by playing with them. I appreciate their willingness to let him play with them and not take it too hard (or easy) on him.

Happy 13th Birthday, Seth!  I love you!