Very late teens

 I wanted to sign up for a class on using story telling to teach.  Due to some misinformation, I didn't find the right place to register until after the class was full.  Then I found another class that I hadn't noticed before,  How to talk to teens.  Occasionally when something like this happens, some people call it a coincidence, Karma, fate, I think of it as Angel Interference.  Angels interfered long enough for me to get where I needed to be.  For 5 hours last night I listened as they discussed how the teenage mind developed.  They talked about how drugs and alcohol stop the social and emotional development.  My mind burned with the question, what about abuse?  What does abuse do to the teenage mind?  I waited patiently, then there it was the third factor that arrested growth, severe stress.  It kept the amygdala, spinning and controlling instead of developing on to adult emotions.  Frozen in time...life arrested...long freaking pause...until conditions are safer and choices are made to once again move forward.  I still remember the conversation with KavinCoach a few years ago.  He described to me what developments happen during the teenager years.  I felt baffled why he was reviewing the information.  I watched all 6 of my kids navigate through those choppy waters.  Turbulent with emotion, risk taking, testing their decision making, highs and lows, I knew what they had been through I watched and worried and rejoiced as they each developed into amazing wonderful adults.  Very quietly KavinCoach asked, "Did you do that?"  Like a pile up on an eight lane freeway, my mind grid locked then slowly started to function.  I slowly stated, "Don't tell me that I am going to have to be a teenager."  KavinCoach sat quietly.  Images flashed, thoughts clashed, a growing overwhelming feeling like waking up on Freaky Friday but I don't have anyone to trade places with, this is all me.  My mind is trying to absorb everything they are saying in class.  This is exactly where I need to be right now.  I felt relief when I read Roots2Blossom, I am not doing this alone.  She is discovering like I am a voice that was denied as a teenager and learning to monitor what is said takes practice.  I am kind of excited that we each have a chance to do what was denied all those years ago.  We get to grow up.  For me, doing this at over 50 instead of 15 has some real challenges.  I also believe it is an amazing opportunity to learn to thrive. 

 Roots2blossom shares her adventures. 
http://roots2blossom.wordpress.com/2012/09/05/blogging-may-be-bad-for-my-filter/

TILT!