Parenting from Baby to Teen-A Retrospect #ThenAndNowKids #CPTC #Partner

***Disclosure: This post is sponsored by the Center for Parent and Teen Communication.  All opinions are my own and have not been influenced in any way.***

No matter how much things may seem to change, the more they also stay the same. Welcome a beautiful, new chapter of parenthood. 

THEN: 
When you were small, you never fit in with the other little boys in the neighborhood. You wanted to dance and create beautiful works of art, while the other kids threw a ball, played with their action heroes, or frolicked in the mud. You wanted to bake apple pies, and the other kids made mud pies. You were Mommy's Shadow, following me while the other kids followed their Daddy's favorite sports teams. You were sweet and sensitive, and the light of my life. 

NOW: 
Now, you're a phenomenal artist whose pieces have been shown in galleries. You are still eccentric, colorful, and stand out in the crowd. You follow the beat of your own drum, never conforming or trying to be someone you're not. You've never allowed your uniqueness to hold you back, and you've never tried to dim your shine to appease others. You are brave. You are confident. You are wonderfully comfortable in your own skin. You've used your own challenges and experiences to be an advocate and ally to others who may not be so strong, or who may not have the support at home that  you've always had. You're still sweet. You're still sensitive. You're still the light of my life, even though you now tower over me rather than fit perfectly in my arms. 

​This goes hand-in-hand with this piece from Dr. Ken Ginsburg at the Center for Parent and Teen Communication.  It helps me recall all the sweetest moments of babyhood, but also to recognize that, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Be sure to check out this new resource because we could all use a guide during these confusing, yet exciting teen years! 

What are your favourite babyhood memories?  What inspiring things are your teens doing now?