Those Annoying Teen Years

Having lived in (marvelous) Marin, I can visualize the places and scenery that Anne Lamott described in her essay (“Blessed Are the Annoying,” May 7). And being the mother of a teenage boy, I could smell Sam’s bedroom and experience the frustration of chores not done and promises going by the wayside because of sleeping or other teen-important activities.

I appreciated Lamott’s words of wisdom in “the four things I know for sure about raising kids,” which told me that I have been affecting my son’s character by overlooking all the things that are important to me, letting him go play beach volleyball instead of staying home to help me when I was sick. I will remind myself of this from now on and ask more from him, for both of us.

Niki Good

Newport Beach

*

On Mother’s Day, we met our son at the Mark Taper Forum downtown. He was on time, he was perfectly dressed, his hair wasn’t matted down in “bed-head tufts.” We talked about the play and he offered to take us to dinner before our long way back home.

I couldn’t have predicted any of these circumstances when he was in his annoying-borderline-hoodlum stage. Thank you for reminding us that teenage cryogenics (put them away for a better day) are not the only solution to living with adolescents. Faith and humor are vital. So is waiting . . . a lot of waiting. Sooner and usually later, they do get it.

Josie Levy Martin

Santa Barbara