Only those with teenagers can completely understand the frustrations of having one, the rest of us though can get a pretty good idea! We either watch the stress, agony, defeat and then triumph roller coaster ride other parents go through with these bundle of hormones or we remember what hell we could give during those years!  You hear women say that the teenage years with their kids is when they really started to see the wrinkles! Not only do teenagers ‘know it all’ but they  have this funny logic that is all their own that you sit in amazement when you hear it knowing that only a teenage mind can come up with it, ‘what do you mean I can’t look at that magazine it’s here at the store for the public to view it’s right here on the shelf for me to pick up, I am the public’…….if you are a parent of a teenager I am sure you have a zillion examples ready to go!!!!

This past weekend I was lucky enough to travel to Yountville, which is just outside of Napa, with some amazing women who volunteer LOTS of their time to the Veterans Hospital in Yountville, each month actually they make their way to the hospital with all kinds of goodies for the heroes in that hospital. This time of year they make blankets, wraps for the ladies, stockings and bring all kinds of gifts they know each Veteran would like from their years of visiting and getting to know each and every hero there. I was so humbled to be in their presence and to walk those halls and hear all the amazing stories of how each person there has sacrificed so much for us, folks they don’t even know but consider a part of  the American Family. It’s something I highly recommend doing.

Among these charitable women were two teenage girls who actually asked if they could come along and help, mind you this was an early Saturday morning when most teenagers are sleeping until noon! They showed up at our meeting spot a little tired but ready to go. They were polite and well mannered. And once we got to our destination they looked around to see what help was needed and jumped right in, they saw some of the ladies  unloading their cars with gifts and they walked over and started stacking the gifts on the carts provided and then rolled them into the hospital instead of plopping on the couches in the hospital lobby they  came right back outside to see what else needed and begin helping. Once it was time to give out the stockings and gifts each girl walked right into a Veterans room with a smile and a thank you for your service while handing them their goodies. It didn’t matter to them if the Veteran was coherent or laying in their bed unable to talk, they treated them all with the same respect and cheery attitude. I can only hope that if my husband and  I are blessed with a child someday that our teenager grows up to be this polite and compassionate. I know it’s easy for adults to talk crap about teenagers and how ungrateful some are but Saturday was living proof that there is still good to be found in teenagers and how Wonderful that is!