I'll be in my room...

Oh no she didn't. She couldn't have. I must be hearing her wrong. My dear sweet daughter was never going to retreat to her room to be by herself. She wasn't going to be the typical teenage girl. But now she is. My Hannah turned 13 in June and so many things have changed - and not all of them do I like!!

Hannah and I have always been best friends. Really, we have, she tells me so, and I choose to believe her. She has always confided in me, talked to me about EVERYTHING, and loved hanging out with me. As a matter of fact, she still does. I love the rides in the car, the afternoons in her room, and the evenings in the kitchen when we just chat - about friends, our favorite TV shows, anything and everything.

Over the summer something different began happening. Hannah would just disappear. Not for long, but usually for 30 minutes or an hour, sometimes more than that. When I'd look for her, she'd be in her room - alone. Now, she hasn't ever liked being alone. She is very social and likes to be around people, the more the merrier. What is she doing alone in her room? Here are some answers I get when I ask her or go to her room and find her: Reading a book, messing around on facebook, texting someone (duh!!!), doing her devotional (I have no issues with that one!!), talking on the phone to the boy she likes (that's a whole other story!!), etc. I know, I know...this is all very normal for teenagers...but...I miss her. I don't want her to be normal!! I don't want to hear, "I'll be in my room..." I guess I'll just have to make those car rides, afternoons in her room, and evenings in the kitchen extra special now and be thankful that I have them.

Becky