Age 15

 You are 5'7" tall and you weigh 111 lbs.  You are still obsessed with all of your electronics; computer games, Oculus, Youtube.  There is no fighting you on it. The days of 30 min of screentime a distant memory.  You play with all your friends this way and communicate through all the devices.  

You have busted out a permanent front tooth that is slowly costing us a fortune and I argue with you to put in your mouth piece as a daily annoyance for both of us.  You could just be responsible and do this without the nagging, but where is the fun in that ay?  

You argue incessantly and assume you know everything and I know nothing.  This is a right of passage I suppose for all teenagers, but a painful and exhausting one for all involved.  I long for the days where you looked at me with your baby blues as if I was your compass.  Now you look at me with disdain and disgust.  

I miss the mischievous and adorable ways you would manipulate me as a toddler.  Now your manipulations are no longer cute and accented by a "smart little shit" comment, but rather a large sigh and a heavy eye roll with visions of the day you move out on your own.  

As difficult as you are right now, you show me signs you are growing up and not a horrible human being.  Other parents and adults compliment me with how polite and gentlemanly you are. You prioritize your homework most of the time and I think you brush your teeth and go to bed without much nagging most days. You can still make me laugh and I enjoy the occasional laugh I get out of you. You are independent but sloppy, lazy yet intelligent, creative yet like to take the easy road, and have a good memory and are a good listener, when it interests you.  

I love you despite your faults and look forward to watching you continue to grow.  I yearn for the occasional snuggle and laughter. You hate when I "stare" at you, but I do it anyway. Partly because I am trying to memorize your features and partly because I can't quite figure out how you got to look so much like a man.  

One day you'll experience all the same with your kids I am sure. History repeats itself.