Puberty - Part 2

Puberty … it’s just a stage, awkward as it is, it will end!
 
"What’s going on? What’s happening? Who is this beast? Why, tell me, why is life not fair?" Been there/ heard that? If not, hold on because your family roller coaster is about to ascend ~ click, click, click.
 
My wonderful wife, Cheri, is an RN and we have been stewards of two boys. The youngest turned into a hairy six foot beast of a man in seventh grade and his older brother entered high school at 5’4” weighing in at 104 lbs and started growing armpit hair as a Senior which brought two different experiences with two different conversation tracts. Cheri remembers a time when she blurted out “I hate you” to her mom then threw herself on the bed crying her eyes out. My mother-in law doesn’t remember the event and chalks it up to hormones. I can remember my own frustrations and having my mom tell me “don’t worry.”
 
It’s the case of the “haves" and "have nots.” The physical maturation process is not necessarily kind and is certainly not consistent with its victims (which is everybody).  This is what adds to our roller coaster cries of puberty’s ups and downs.  If nobody cared, if it was all dealt fairly, and if we changed evenly there wouldn’t be as much emotional trauma. It can be emotionally traumatic because some people seem to be blessed with incredible manliness / womanliness (for lack of better words) while others are left behind – that’s the human race; we all compare. 
 
Know the signs and symptoms:

• Hormones are active and unpredictable as the body changes.
• Behavior that is not normally in their character: inadvertently lashing out/super sensitive
• Discipline issues at school due to being irritated, responding inappropriately
• Feelings that have never been experienced before

 
As parents, friends and teachers:

•  Have real conversations: listen to understand and be supportive (You can’t fix it)
•  Affirm that this will end, it’s just a stage …this is not for forever
• Don’t over respond, everything is not a capital offense; Mom, Dad … let it go
• Be aware that kids can be cruel; you are needed now more than ever

 
Puberty.  It is what it is.  Face it and embrace it with plenty of grace. Live out these scriptures:
 
John 1:16 “For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.” Colossians 4:6 “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”   Ephesians 4:29 “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.”
 

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Camper Corner
Puberty…know that it’s a phase and “it just gets better.” It’s a confusing time and it can be a very rough period to go through. It will end. Life goes on. You’re changing from a “manchild / little lady” into a MAC or WOG. As far as hormones – hang on for the roller coaster ride of your life. You are not alone. You can get through gracefully with Christ!