Excuse us for the long time passed since our last post. Homeschooling definitely isn’t an easy route and we have had difficulties getting back into the swing of things after Christmas break. We are finally settled in after a few bumpy weeks and a lot of issues the first weeks.
After school started back this year, our 2 oldest boys went through teen drama. For any parents of teens out there, you know what I mean. Their good friend lives at the other end of the cul de sac and was turning 13. (our boys are 14 and 12) They had been very excited about his birthday party for a long time. Their friend ate at our house on Thursday night and the party was on Saturday night. Their friend was talking about the party and what time the boys should be there. That Saturday, our two boys received their first Reconciliation. (yes they were older than most, and it was an Act of God that we have come this far.) Being older and not the usual 8 years old, they took it very seriously. (not to say 8 year olds don’t, but having a little more mature mind definitely helped and it couldn’t have happened on a better day.) After confession, they came home and went out to play with their friend. He had changed his tune somewhere down the line and said he didn’t want our boys to come to his party because they probably wouldn’t enjoy it and wouldn’t know anyone. This was literally like a smack to their face. My husband and I felt horrible for the boys. They were devastated and felt very betrayed. Our oldest came up to us and said, “I really want to say or do something right now, but I just had confession and I don’t want to ruin it. ” My husband and I were in awe. This all coming from a teenager. The level of maturity he displayed that day was rare. (he’s a teenager. He doesn’t always choose the best decision, as do most people, but it was reassuring to us as parents that he took confession seriously, at least for a moment.) My husband took all the kids out for dinner and had a long talk with the boys that night about their confessions and choices in life. They mentioned that dinner with family and then popcorn and movie night was so much more fun.
So a lesson to be learned from teenagers (who’d of thought?) about choices and thinking about things before you do them. I have never been as proud of them as that day. They took their confession seriously. They were using their faith and living the word of God. The Holy Spirit definitely touched their hearts that day, as did it ours. So for all you parents of teenagers, it is not unheard of or impossible for teens to be mature and live the word of God. Set a good example and live the word as parents and pray. Pray pray pray. We can’t do this enough.
Hope everyone has a great weekend coming up. God bless all.