It’s a funny thing raising a teenager. My daughter just turned 13 in September. As it has been with every stage of her life, I always think back to what I was doing at that age. I had forgotten about the obsession I had over making sure my hair looked perfect every moment of every day. (It never looked perfect. In fact, upon reviewing photos of my teen years, my hair was definitely not my finest feature. Let’s be real, it was awful. #perm)
So, a couple weeks ago, I asked Jules if she wanted to run some errands with me on a Saturday morning. Now, I don’t know about you. But weekends equal comfy, casual, no make-up and no hair washing! Unless there’s a special event, that’s exactly how you can find me. She looked at me with great shock and horror that I was going out like that. And she was completely in awe of the fact that I had the audacity to think she’d throw on a pair of sweats and a T-shirt and roll out with me without a proper hair styling.
I believe I gave her a chuckle and a pretty good eyeroll. She did not do the same. She was completely serious. Where did my child go who used to wear the same princess shirt every single day whether it was clean or dirty? Where’s my girl who I had to beg to brush her curls? Ah. The teen years.
Getting older has its downside. But honestly? I am who I am. I look like what I look like. It is what it is. And, feeling confident enough to go places just as I am is so freeing. Don’t get me wrong. I love getting dolled up sometimes. But life’s busy and this girl loves her athleisurewear!
My daughter will get there. Eventually.
Jenny Matthews is the host of The Morning Drive on Q104 New Hit Country, weekday mornings from 6 – 10 a.m. Connect at jennymatthewsonair.com.
