Ever heard that saying?

"One day you'll have kids, & I hope they turn out just like you!!"

Am I the only one on the planet who thinks this sounds more like a threat and a curse? Is that what's meant when you say this to your kids? Cause... I read it on FB the other day, and it got me thinking... I've got a son, who will be 20 next month. (Ain't he handsome?) And I was like, you know... I really DO hope he has kids who are just like him...and hopefully better!

I love my kiddo. He's smart, he's funny and makes me laugh all the time. He's attentive, and considerate. Thoughtful, friendly, sociable, kind, and caring. He is chivalrous, and generous. He's talented, creative and artistic. He is, exactly the sort of young man I hoped he would be when he was younger.

We've had our share of parent/child arguments, we've had our share of frustrations, on his part and on mine. But you know... having grown up in a non-peaceful home, the one thing I always said when he was young, and through his 'tween', and then his younger 'teenage' years was that "Our Home would NOT be a war zone, his teenage years will be the best of our lives together, we will have peace and harmony".

I have to believe that this is true, because of what I decreed over our lives for years, before we got there. I can personally testify to the fact that whenever people would 'warn' me about different seasons, and stages of our lives...Oh you know "oh you're in the terrible twos now, or oh you know those sneaky pre-teens, or those back talking teenagers" I'd just respond - these are the best days of our lives together! We will have peace and harmony!

And I have to say, as I reflect back on this year in particular, with all the changes and challenges that have come up, and with my kiddo leaving his teens, and entering into his more 'grown up' phase of life, I'm pretty darn proud.