They are 16 but still kids

My daughter had a teen sleepover last night. Imagine first a party with 10 or so teens then 4 of them sleeping over. Imagine food and soda everywhere, bodies strewn about. They are at a fun stage, they are slowly emerging adult women, gaining responsibility while keeping one foot (begrudglingly) in childhood. Both terror and pleasure, it is a stage that causes parents extreme shock at times while giving us glimpses of the children they were.

“So what brings up this topic up Becki” you might ask? Well, this whole fact dawned on me when my 16 year old said “Hey my friends and I are going to the park, I’ll bring my cellphone.” She’s practically an adult! I told her, “Yep, see ya later have fun”. No kiss, no hug goodbye I went on with my work, she went out the door. Life is good. No big deal.

But as she walked out I thought about Molly Bish and Gwen Araujo. I thought about other teens who said, “Hey I’m going to the park” or “I’m heading out with friends” then didn’t come back - ever. So I guess, with tears in my eyes, I just write this as an open reminder that we need to hug them when they are unhuggable and nurture them when they are unnuturable. It’s mostly safe “out there”, but not entirely so.