Shawn L. Bird

Yesterday I touched on a common thing with 13-14 year olds, that they have to challenge the adults and complain.  It’s nothing personal, it’s just their way of asserting their autonomy, even if it hurts them more than anyone else.

We have an old family video that illustrates this well.  I’m a baby, so my brother is about 14.  The family is off to Vancouver Island to  spend time at my dad’s company cabin on Long Beach, in what is now Pacific Rim National Park.   While the rest of the family sits out in the wind enjoying the ferry ride, bro is sitting inside with a comic book, ignoring everyone else.   When the camera comes near him, he scowls.  Later, I’m toddling along the shore, my sister is playing with a dingy in the waves with a friend, and again, bro is reading a comic and scowling.  After…