After work, my partner and I decided to step out for a drink and unwind. Since there were no classes that week, the place was full of teenagers. They were laughing, talking, and enjoying the night like nothing else mattered. Later, we moved to a nearby convenience store, and even there we saw more groups of teens gathered outside, still full of energy as midnight approached.

Watching them brought back memories of my own teenage years. The thrill of sneaking out to meet friends, the endless conversations, and that feeling of freedom that only comes at that age. Back then, parents often reacted harshly. Some of us were scolded, grounded, or even punished more severely. We were labeled as “hard-headed” or the “black sheep,” and those words stayed with us long after the scolding ended.

Looking back now, I can smile at those experiences. The excitement of friendship, the laughter over nothing, and the rush of first romance, the butterflies, the anticipation and the heartbreak. It was all part of growing up. It wasn’t about rebellion; it was about learning, connecting, and discovering who we were. Those nights were full of small, ordinary moments that somehow felt monumental. Staying out late, talking under streetlights, feeling alive in ways you can hardly explain until you’re older. Those were the moments that stick with you.

I remember the first crushes, the nervous excitement of holding hands, the thrill of passing secret notes, and the sting of heartbreak when things didn’t work out. As an adult, I can see now that all of those emotions, intense, fleeting, and raw were perfectly normal. We were designed to feel deeply, and teenage years were the perfect time to experience it all.

Now, as a parent, I see things through a different lens. I understand the worry that comes with wanting to keep my child safe, but I also know the value of giving them space to grow. I don’t want to repeat the same mistakes I experienced with my own parents. I hope my child will be honest enough to ask permission when they want to go out, and I want to trust them enough to let them explore while keeping them safe. I wouldn’t take those teenage years from them—they’re too important.

All I can do is hope and pray for their safety, for them to stay out of trouble, and to come home unharmed. I hope they feel the joy of friendship, the excitement of first love, and the thrill of discovering the world on their own terms. Because growing up isn’t about following rules blindly, it’s about learning, experimenting, making mistakes, and finding your own way. And as a parent, there’s a quiet satisfaction in knowing you’re there to guide them, but not to hold them back.

Those teenage years—messy, emotional, chaotic, and beautiful are what shape a person. And when you look back as an adult, you realize how lucky you were to have lived through them, even with all the mistakes, heartbreaks, and lessons along the way.