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Dear Zach,Happy Birthday , August 15 ! You're beginning your Teen Years and the challenges, opportunities, exciting major ups-and-downs begin big time!
Here's how it kinda unfolded for me and I suspect will
play out similarly for you, Zach
13 : The last year of traditional childhood, but on the horizon of getting your learner's driving permit, preparing to enter high school where the rubber really meets the road academically and where the dreaded,' Permanent Record ' begins in earnest.
Growing taller and filling out.
14 : Passing the test for Learner's Permit.
Entering High School.
Resisting peer pressure to smoke, drink,etc.
Really starting to dig on girls.
Growing more inches and beginning to be concerned about body and maybe even facial hair.
15 : Feeling your way around High School and being grateful you're a sophomore and not still a freshman.
Really having to deal with peer pressure and school cliques.
Girls, Girls, Girls.
Begging your mom or dad to let you ride around with friends old enough to drive.
16 : The Car, Boss. The Car.
Part-time job to help pay extra expenses; gas, insurance, keep-up-with-the-Joneses stuff.
Coping with much tougher school courses.
17 : Girls...of course.
Being cool without getting big-headed.
Being A Senior!
College or Not-College? That's the biggie question.
College Entrance Exams/Apps...if applicable
18 : Out of the nest now and in college, military, work,etc.
19 : Last year of being a teen but probably in numbers only as you've probably felt like a full-fledged adult for a long time just like I did!
!3,14,15,16,17,18,19 : exciting/boring, fun/sad,
joyous/painful,relaxed/difficult
Wondrous/Scary
YOU GET TO CHOOSE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY
AND...............
I'll Love You And Be There For You All The Way!!!
Love Always,
Dad
