Our Teenagers

It's easy to get sidetracked with all that is "wrong" with some of our teenagers.

For instance, a girl my son went to grade school with. She started drinking and smoking pot in middle school. By sophomore year she was posting on Facebook that she hated school and wanted to drop out. Junior year, she dropped out. This should have been her senior year. She recently posted that she was thrilled to be pregnant and becoming a mom even though she didn't know who the father was. I've met her mother. Unfortunately she does not have a good role model.

A kid who was a year ahead of my son routinely posts pictures of his pot stash, and it's use, on Facebook. Apparently no one told him not to post things that could get him in trouble on the internet. Or not to smoke pot.

Same goes for the kid who just started college and tweeted that he was doing shots between classes. Maybe it was part of a hazing for his frat house, I don't know. But if I was an employer and saw it, I guarantee he wouldn't be on the "hire" list. I'm not saying college kids don't do dumb stuff. I'm saying the posting about it on a forever public forum might not be smart.

The smug and obnoxious ones that walk down the middle of the road or parking lot, refusing to allow your car to pass. (just happened again recently)

And the ones who are in much more serious trouble.

But instead, I'm delighted to focus on the rest. The ones that don't make you shake your head or wonder what is becoming of the next generation. The ones that work hard, act appropriately and are generally good kids, just being teenagers.

My son celebrated his birthday Saturday with a bunch of kids at our house. He asked Hubs to man the barbeque. Other than that, we stayed in the living room snoozing with one eye open because we're old watching television until the party ended at midnight. The kids were outside in the back, with burgers and chips, music, a fire pit with smores and giant chocolate cake. When The Boy messaged out invitations, he stated clearly that there would be no alcohol or drugs. We heard loud music, lots of laughter, and plenty of silly teenage comments. Then they started leaving. Nearly every kid there thanked my husband and I on their way out for letting them come over. Thanked us. I know, we shouldn't be shocked by this, seeing as it's standard polite behavior, but I was impressed.

That's only a sampling. There are good kids everywhere. Like anything else, "good" doesn't stick in our minds or our memories like "bad" does. The bad ones stick out like a sore thumb. But behind each one of them, there is a large group that are great kids. Our next generation. Teenagers that in 10 years will be the next wave of doctors, lawyers, carpenters, electricians, musicians, salespeople. 

Next time you are out, focus on one that's doing it right, instead of one that's doing it wrong. Remember, they are still teenagers without a lot of life experience, so they aren't perfect. But they are good people, too.

It's a lesson I need to remind myself to heed sometimes. But it usually leaves me with a smile.

***Ally
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