You know, I had meant to write about this last week or so. I was driving my kid to band practice, and she idly asked me
Mom, as you get older, do your opinions change? If so, why?
Ah, how time slammed to a stop at that moment (which was kinda sorta not optimal, as I was driving at the time. 
). I glanced at my kid and thought for a second, gosh, if only I could fill her with the wisdom I have obtained over my 43 years of life! How can I tell her about discovering her own inner strength thru challenges that are often soul-searing and leave you crying on the ground…only to be raised up by your own spiritual strength as it emerges?
How can I instill in her how when it comes right down to it, the only person (besides her parents) she can utterly trust is herself? How can I teach her that strong people can stand by themselves…but aren’t afraid to reach out and help others?
How my own opinions have changed as I’ve grown….wow, I could write epic novels about that.
What struggles will my child go thru? And how will they affect her?
All I can hope is when she finally emerges as an adult from her cocooned world of teenagerness….she’ll have the strength of personality NOT to be afraid of learning new things and changing her opinions….when new knowledge comes to light.
Enjoy,
Barbara