I miss the days of my kids’ unwavering love, but more than that, I miss when they were easy to love.
She barely looked up from her phone, but I definitely spotted an eye roll as I closed her door and headed out into the elements with my dogs Huck, Bluebell and Luna, who still love me unconditionally.
Put simply, I honestly wonder whether I love them as much in their teen incarnations as I did when their little hands fitted into mine and I was the centre of their universe.
Our teenagers seem to push us to breaking point almost daily, which makes it hard to love them like I did when they were easier and adored me – rather than cringing at my very presence.
Annie insists on being dropped at least a hundred metres from where she’s meeting her friends, while my middle son, Sammy, 16, informed me last week that the Instagram reels I send him are “cringe” and can I stop in case someone on the school bus sees them.
