The Bitter Truths About Being A Teen

I’ve raised two daughters and have a son in the teen-pipeline. I also spent ten years training teens in martial arts.

One of them asked me about the “bitter truths” about their age group. This is what I came up with.

There are many. Unfortunately, as a teen you don’t believe them — but you discover them.

1. High school really means nothing in the grand scheme of life. No matter how miserable you are (or how blissful you are) high school has little-to -nothing to do with the rest of your life. They are your “defining” years, but become exponentially insignificant as you age.
2. Your Dad or Mom was right; there are “other fish in the sea”. Yes, they were callous when they said it and told you to buck up after your last “big break up” that turned your life upside. Much like #1, you will look back at it and wonder why the HELL it meant so much to you then.
3. You don’t have all the answers. In fact, you have practically NONE of the answers. At the time it may seem so — but as a teenager you’re chemically incapable of making life-changing decisions. Science, not opinion. Check Google.
4. Your parents actually love you. You may hate them and in your teen years they will have done everything to stop you from having fun. Just remember to thank them when you hit about 25.
5. You’re actually probably a bitter, brooding little ass that your parents have to put up with — and it is not entirely your fault. Thing is, you can’t see it until later. Be sure to apologize to your parents when you hit about 25.
6. You spend your whole teen existence DYING to be older. You’ll spend the rest of your life wishing you were younger.
7. You learn you’re going to die. But you won’t believe it. This changes, too, with age.

Of course I told many of these to my daughters as they grew up. Problem is — there is #3 above; as with most teens, my daughters didn’t believe me.

If only I had believed my parents growing up — my teen years would have been a lot better. :)