The Politics of Puberty
A Reflection on Adolescence
Being the parent of a teenager
May be the second hardest job
In the world;
The first, of course, is being the teen
In that brief but vast expanse
Of existential vaguery
That imperfectly
Fills the space between childhood
And that presumably shining goal where
The anointing into adulthood is finally
And fully unfurled.
Betwixt and between
They firmly stand
On the pointed spikes of
A developmental fence,
Unable to go back
And not yet ready to go forward;
The years of being nowhere
In particular
That they hope not to regret.
How quickly even young parents
Seem to forget.
Trial and error,
Pretense and terror;
Sixteen is often not sweet -
Child or grown up
A completed pre-frontal cortex
Has not yet shown up,
Easy is not the name
Of their unshaded, poorly paved street.
Most will survive it
And move on in life's journey
Quickly forgetting the past,
And those adolescent years
Of smiles or rage
Masking uncertain tears
'Till our adult lot has been cast.
Parents would be all the better yet
If they tried hard not to forget.
Published by David A. Reinstein, LCSW - Featured Contributor in Technology
Clinical Social Worker, psychotherapist, born in Boston and a relatively unscathed survivor of the 60 s. Fan of technology, guitars, creating music and poetry. Mental wellness coach, staff trainer and parent... View profile
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14 Comments
Post a CommentWell said. We parents do often forget what being a teen entails. It's stormy, exciting and horrifying all at once. I, for one, wanted to stay seventeen even then.
Great poem.
A very original and artistically written poem. Thanks!
Tough time when one hates everyone alse including the self at times! It is like going through a tunnel but there is a light at the end of it. But it looks never ending at times. Tough on both the parents and the teen. Nicely said, David, but I worried that would be no place for comments as this could turn out to be a Health topic! siva
Teens need to stand on that fence with "pointed spikes" to help them cross the gateway of maturity. It's painful :) cheers
My teen age years were so very, very different from that of my granddaughter!!!!!
My kdis at teens were nothing like I was as a teen. I was totally confused as the parent of a teen. But I lived through it and would never want to repeat those years!!
What a reminder for us now with grand-children to be teenagers in just a couple of years! We get to live through it with our daughter's family as well!
nice
I'm the mother of a preteen, tom boy daughter. What a combination :-) I hope I live through it... And she does too! JK