We all, me included, love to post our parenting wins and picture-perfect children.

When your kids are little, you control everything they do, what they eat, what they wear, their transportation, their play…all of their choices.
Then they become teenagers…

They are driving. They are making decisions when they are away from you, that you pray you prepared them for.
And sometimes, they mess up…

Your thoughts about them have you awake until 4:00 a.m, mind racing, tears flowing, reliving the events of the day, questioning your parenting skills, feeling as though you’re the only parent to go through this. Realistically, you know your not. You know that you have taught them right from wrong. You know you have loved them hard.
My kids are safe, everyone is ok and I praise God for that. But having teenagers is like having your first baby. Everyone can try to explain it, but you don’t understand it until you live it.
This isn’t every day of course, but it was today.

This is an imperfect mom with imperfect kids. If you’re reading this, I hope that my vulnerability reminds you that you aren’t alone in this stage of parenting either. It is hard but it is not impossible.
When my mind finally stops reeling, I will wake up loving, forgiving, and directing them just as I did the day before.

<3 Betty