Article May 14, 2001 Issue

Congratulations! It's a Teenager

By Judith H. Ryan

A friend of mine whose son was a teenager when I was pregnant with my first child, told me, "It's a good thing they start as babies. No one would say, 'Honey, let's have a teenager.' "

Even if you're not the mom or dad of a teenager, you may have felt intimidated by them. But why?

I remember when I turned 13. I felt older, more important, more independent. My boundaries were expanding. I had more freedom from adult supervision. It was an exciting milestone. In some faiths and societies, age 13 is celebrated as a time of assuming greater responsibility in the community.

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