Glee (noun): open delight or pleasure

There have been three recent teen deaths in our community.  Two have been proven suicides and the last is undetermined, but most likely, alcohol related.  Very sad...very sad indeed.  I can't imagine how their families are dealing with the pain.  I feel it deeply.  I have five children of my own; three are still teens living at home.

So I was thinking this past week on why I should be grateful for my own teenagers...why I should be thankful that they are who they are.  At first, I thought this could be tough.  There are days where I could just get in the car and drive away from the madness.  Other days, I feel like throwing them all in the trunk and driving them to some far away desert, with no water or electricity or toilet facilities.  But then, somewhere in my brain (and heart) a switch turned on....and I was enlightened.

My 16 year old daughter loves the show "Glee".  Did I say "loves"?  I meant LOVES!  It doesn't help that she has fallen for two of the actors; Chris Colfer and Max Adler.  She is extremely artistic and considers a perfect day is when I leave her alone so she can draw, create, and play games on her laptop, all while watching 12 hours of Glee episodes.  She is not interested in alcohol, drugs, or parties.  How darn lucky am I??

My 14 year old son plays football, loves to come home after school and considers the perfect weekend as being one where I leave him alone to play games on the Playstation and watch the Patriots kick butt.  That's it.  He is still shy, loves to eat, loves to be home and is not interested in drugs, alcohol, parties, girls or dating (yet!).  How many parents can say that?

I also have a 13 year old daughter.  She will be someone to watch as she is the social butterfly.  Still a bit shy but makes friends easily, is into fashion and makeup, loves her family, loves her animals and although she likes boys, is not "into" dating them (yet!).  She also has found a common interest with her sister in the show "Glee".  I have to give a shout out to "Glee" as they have brought my girls together again and it warms this mother's heart to hear them in each others rooms either discussing the next episode or watching past ones.  Thank you...thank you...THANK YOU!

When I think back on this last week, with the tragedies and funerals, I was originally sad and extremely depressed about life.  Then I found my soul.  I picked up my children from school and listened to them laughing and I was born again.  My kids were safe...and good...and gleeful.

I am rich beyond words.  I am gleeful myself.