Bigger Kids, Bigger Perks

My teen. My snowblower. My driveway.

The old parenting adage goes, “Bigger kids, bigger problems.” You know, like when they sue you for college money after emancipating themselves or they steal a truck for a joy ride that involves 23 crashes.

But as the parent of two teens, I can attest that with bigger kids, there are bigger perks as well. Here are some of my everyday favorites:

• Nobody has a temper tantrum because their sneakers light up in blue and they want it to be green.
• You can sleep even if other people in the house are still awake.
• Free snow shoveling and snow-blowing. (Also, leaf blowing and lawn mowing, but after this winter, I can barely remember those.)
• You can usually find ear buds and phone chargers to “borrow” from them.
• There may be someone in your house now who actually enjoys driving and will, therefore, has no problem stopping by the supermarket to pick up something for dinner.
• Sick days no longer mean, “no work, all CandyLand for the big people.”
• Teens are self-cleaning.
• They are willing and able to sleep in.
• And they get the joke.
• Gone are the days where you have to dress them like Dr. Seuss or a rock star or an astronaut for some sort of school event that’s tomorrow, and yet you just found out. And it’s 9 p.m.
• At least now if you’re buying Chinese plastic, it’s made into something that can text or search the web, and not something shaped like a “snow wand” that plays “Let it Go,”  randomly, at 3 a.m.
• Look on the floor… take your pick of boots, jackets, gloves, hats, whatever you need. Chances are, they fit!
• What’s that sound…someone else feeding the cat/bringing in the garbage can/turning off the outside lights/rebooting the Tivo/emptying the dishwasher! (Well, let’s not get cocky. Probably not the dishwasher.)
• The car seat is in your husband’s car. Wait…that doesn’t matter anymore.
• Look! You’re sitting!

Please, share more perks below.