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REFLECTIONS

Featured writer, Patty Zemanick

"Vacation with Lindsey"

My kids and I just returned from spring break.  This was the first real vacation we’ve had in a long, long time and it was lots of fun.  We went to Florida and stayed with my parents.  While there we visited Walt Disney.  We all had different opinions on which park to visit.  When I was a kid it was just the Magic Kingdom, but now you have choices… Epcot, MGM Studios, the new Animal Kingdom… hard to choose.  My son, Ryan, and my mom wanted to go to Animal Kingdom, my Dad wanted to see Epcot and my daughter, Lindsey, and I wanted to visit MGM Studios.  So we parted ways, knowing we’d all visit the Magic Kingdom together on the following day. 

I had no idea at the time, but deciding to go to MGM Studios with Lindsey was a blessing in disguise.  You see, she’s a teenager and our relationship hasn’t been the best lately.  I don’t know how this happened, but when she graduated from child to teenager something drastically changed.  Not to her… but to me.  Almost instantly I noticed changes in the following areas…  The tone of my voice was significantly altered; 'cause no matter how loud I speak Lindsey can’t seem to hear a word I say.  My IQ was reduced too; 'cause she gives me those looks.  You know the kind I’m talking about…  the “I don’t know how in the world you made it this far with such limited knowledge” kind of look.  Then I began questioning my sanity… there are things I just know I’ve told her, yet she has no memory of it at all.  This hurts my feelings!  By the way…  did I mention I’ve also become quite sensitive… yep – that too!  The end result is we talk less and less, and she spends more and more time in her room on the phone or with her ears covered up with a headset blasting music. 

Although my daughter is still a relative newcomer to the teenage world, and I’m just a beginner at parenting a teen, I’ve already learned a thing or too.  Mostly I’ve learned that parenting a teenager isn’t for sissies.   It’s a tuff job.  But, more importantly this experience has given me a little insight into the frustrations God must have with us – His kids.  Sometimes I think He gave me a slightly rebellious teen so I can experience first hand how it makes Him feel when I’m not following His will.  Now I don’t wear black fingernail polish or hip hugger jeans that I have to keep hiking up, so I know that’s not the problem.  But there are times when He tells me to do things… like apologizing to someone when I’m wrong, or helping someone in need… and I pretend like I can’t hear Him.  I bet that hurts His feeling too. 

I believe the Israelites hurt God’s feelings.  After all, they were His chosen people (His children), and no matter how much He did for them they continued to disobey Him.  Just listen to this… For the Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites, ‘You are a stiff-necked people.  If I were to go with you even for a moment, I might destroy you.  Now take off your ornaments and I will decide what to do with you’.” Exodus 33:5   Sounds like something I’d say… “Lindsey, you are really ticking me off.  I can’t even talk with you right now or I’m gonna blow my stack.  You’d better just stay in your room until I decide what to do with you.”  Makes me feel a sense of relief… even God gets frustrated with His kids. 

So there we were in sunny Florida, a beautiful day – just the two of us.  We stood in long lines for the various MGM attractions… not much to do when you’re stuck in those lines except chit-chat.  So we did.  We talked about a lot of stuff.  We talked about music and clothes.  We talked about some things we had in common and things we didn’t.  We shared a giant pretzel together, we were scared almost to death together in the Tower of Terror, and we screamed together on the roller coaster.  Then at the end of the day, we walked along a quiet street, stopped for some coffee and sat at a cozy table outside.  As we sipped from our steaming cups we laughed at a little bird stealing crumbs from under our table.  The memory of the two of us, sitting at this table, laughing and really, really enjoying each other’s company will remain with me always.

Our day together was a vacation in itself.  We took a vacation from angry words and resentments…  a vacation from trying to change each other, from criticizing each other and for a moment the world felt right again.  There was peace… sweet peace. 

I know it’s not easy being a teenager.  Although it seems like forever since I’ve been one, I haven’t completely forgotten how difficult those years can be.  You want to fit in, you try to deal with peer pressure, you’re in a big hurry to grow up, you’re dealing with your body changing, your skin changing and you’re on an emotional roller coaster ride most of the time.  I guess that what a teen needs most is something that doesn’t change… something they can count on, depend on.  I know two things Lindsey can count on for sure…  her Dad and I love her and her Heavenly Father loves her.  I know she loves us too.  We’ll make it through these teen years… but adding a few extra vacations along the way sure couldn’t hurt.

Patty