Trials of Our Teens

We well remember those years—the years when we had definitely “arrived” as adults. Our problems, which often seemed deeply serious to us, were not always considered so by others. More was expected of us than we had been accustomed to, yet less confidence was reposed in us than we sometimes thought should have been; and we were sometimes resentful of restraints. We have seen the wisdom of it all since then, but it was often trying in our teens. We sometimes thought of parents as people who didn’t seem to know that the world had “changed.” Their ideas and admonitions often seemed “old-fashioned,” and there may have been times when we felt they were merely trying to interfere with our fun. Yes, we knew that they had been “over the road,” but we were given to supposing that the road must have altered altogether since they were young. To us it was a new road. How could they know? But to them it was fundamentally a familiar journey. Superficially the scenery changes somewhat but basically the same roads still go the same places. And to you in the years of your youth: Believe us, parents don’t want to “spoil your fun.” But they have traveled the road, and they have seen the signs—and they know the dangerous dead ends. They have seen the crashes of those who ignore precautions—and they don’t want you to come to a jumping-off place at a speed you can’t control. All the rules of the road (all the commandments and precautions) are necessary because time and experience and human nature have proved that they are necessary. And so, be grateful for the precautions of parents. Have faith in them. They may not be infallible, but their wisdom will far outweigh their mistakes. And whatever else you may think, and however impatient you may become, write this on your heart and never forget it: Your happiness is their first concern. And there will come a time when you will understand this—if not sooner, then years from now, when you yourself may be anxiously trying to see a boy and a girl of your own through the trials of their teens.