AlisonH
Having your parents divorce while you’re starting to hit puberty can’t be easy. The kid’s had a rough time of it, the parents don’t have each other there for emotional backup as their oldest starts his teens, and I’ve been trying to figure out if there was anything I could possibly do but have come up empty for months now.
Because every thirteen year old boy wants to be best friends with a sixty-six-year old woman, right? Uhhhhh…
There was a potluck picnic in the park this evening. He and his little brother were heading to where the food was being set up when suddenly, to show off, he leaped up to the picnic table and danced across it, down to the bench, and back to the ground heading past me.
I caught his eye just long enough: “I was just thinking, another week or so and you’ll be taller than me. And then you did!”
That’s the first time I’ve seen him laugh in a good long time.
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I am not and have never been a 13 year old boy, *but* would not discount a 13 year old wanting to be friends with a 66 year old, and I will say that, at minimum, if you can find a way for him to be Legitimately Useful sometimes – ask him to do something that young bones can do more easily than not-young bones, or hire him to mow your lawn/dig holes to plant things in/wash and detail the car if he’s within range of your house – I would bet that would be helpful to him.
Comment by KC 05.20.25 @ 8:39 amSkillful teenage handling is one of your superpowers! Hope the potluck was wonderful too.
Comment by DebbieR 05.20.25 @ 8:43 amI have two 13 year olds at my house and they are always seeking positive adult interaction. If you can find ways to support this kid–through cookies, or mowing the lawn, or schoolwork help, or a friendly cup of tea? It makes a huge difference. We have a whole pile of older people in our neighbourhood and congregation who provide backup fan club support for our kids and it helps a lot. Ask the mom or dad if you’re concerned but this mom would say yes to the help…
Comment by Joanne 05.20.25 @ 9:35 amLeave a comment
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