I cannot believe that at my age I am going to have to mother yet another strong willed young man through his teen years... oh, Jesus, help me!!

Seth is by nature soft,kind and considerate but he is also determined, determined to be his own person. With Seth much more than with Levi I have allowed this. With Levi I used a strong hand, I think I had to or he would have taken over the household :) With Seth I have been able to allow him much more room to be.

But, he is 13, almost 14 and we have begun.

Sunday he put on a horribly wrinkled shirt. I gave him a choice - I would iron it or he could take it off. He balked. I had to pull my trump card and make him. It didn't get ugly but I could feel him seething.

Yesterday he had a call from a friend wanting him to go somewhere with an adult I don't trust. Once again, the Mom card had to be pulled. We argued momentarily, I explained to him just how precious he is to me and that I would never let him go somewhere with someone I didn't completely trust.

He gets to go and do a lot of things - mostly because we know a lot of dependable people.

He finally accepted my decision graciously.

I am much too old and way too tired to do this, but, I don't have much choice--- well, I guess I do, but, I choose to be an even better parent this third time around the teen track.

I want to allow Seth to shine. I want him to grow up confident and strong. I want him to be ready to enter into whatever the world has for him.

This whole Mother-ing thing is a daunting task, at best - even for a seasoned Mom like me.