Remember that life is crazy and unpredictable and will only be as fun as you make it. Life will have its low points and twists and turns and horrible times- but life will also have breathtaking, beautiful moments and I pray those are the moments you hold onto. I wish I would have realized when I was younger that those beautiful moments can seem little in the grand scheme of things- like tide pooling with your grandparents when I was little, walking through the botanical gardens in San Diego, making Smores while camping by the ocean, screaming at the top of my lungs on my favorite Disney ride- but when I look back, those are the moments that made my childhood. Not the friends and popularity that everyone searches for, not the gossip and drama, not the people I was trying to date- it was the moments I took for granted. It may be hard to understand this concept but the things you think are important when you're a teenager, are NOT important. Your education, your family, your friends, your character- those are the important things.
Inevitably, you will mess up. You will stumble. You will make the wrong choice every now and then but your dad and I will always be there to help you back onto your feet. We will teach you everything we know and will guide you through life while letting you make your own decisions. Granted, I will always see you as my baby boy, I don't care how old you are, you will always be my baby. BUT I promise I will give you the room to grow into the man God intended you to be. "The best gift a parent can give their child is both roots and wings."
Just remember:
- Your mom and dad will love you unconditionally, forever
- You can always come back home
- You can come to us about anything and we will help you
- Don't grow up. At least not fully anyway
- Study! I know it's not fun but it will get you far
- Don't be mean to girls, they are 10x meaner than boys
- Treat everyone with respect, even if they don't deserve it, it shows you have good character
- Pick a sport, or two, that you love and stick with them
- Don't be a bully! I will make your life miserable if you make someone else's life miserable
- Peer Pressure is when people below you are trying to pull you down to their level. Keep being a leader and don't give in.
- Don't be sexist. Women are just as strong and intelligent as men
- Remember that who you date, your family dates too
- If you make a girl fall in love with you, make sure you have every intention on catching her. Don't be a player. Gentlemen always get the good ones.
- When life is bad, pray.
- When life is good, pray.
- Know that God is always on your side and has an amazing plan for your life
