My Cute Teens Veronica [best] -

That is the sneaky thing about parenting teens. You spend so much time managing the attitude and the eye-rolling that you forget to look at them. When you finally do, you realize they have become art. Let’s talk about the word cute . When Veronica was four, "cute" meant mismatched socks, a gap-toothed smile, and a lisp when she said "spaghetti."

She is everything I hoped she would be. She just doesn't want me to know that she knows that. The older Veronica gets, the deeper the conversations become. We have moved past "why is the sky blue?" into "what is the meaning of consent?" and "how do I know if I am a good person?" my cute teens veronica

I know you think I am embarrassing. I know you think I don't "get it." And you are right—I don't get the skinny jeans (or are they wide-leg now? I can't keep up). That is the sneaky thing about parenting teens

These talks are terrifying. I am not qualified to answer these questions. I am just a guy who used to wipe applesauce off her chin. Let’s talk about the word cute

But she asks me anyway. She sits cross-legged on the end of my bed at 10:30 PM, when the house is quiet, and she peels back the layers of her heart. She tells me about her fears—about college, about friendships, about whether she is pretty enough.

Thank you for the chaos. Thank you for the attitude. Thank you for existing.

Now please clean your room.