17 Again (feat. Abby McGillivray)

By: Abby McGillivray

I am proud to welcome my daughter Abby as our very first guest blogger. Today is her 17th birthday, and as a grade 12 student, she’s got a lot goin’ on. While we ran every which way but loose, her generation has been swaddled in bubble wrap. Abby shares a candid snapshot of life in today’s world, and opens a floodgate of memories of our own glory days.

Today’s mood; bitchy with a chance of sarcasm

Parents/Family: Love these people to death! They’re the real MVP’s for putting up with my teenage angst. EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. It’s still a two way street though 😉 I am thankful for how close we are. I’m very honest and don’t hesitate to tell them stories about my day. Mom and dad both work from home, which is nice, but oh my goodness they need to get out of the house sometimes. Mom goes out almost everyday, but she needs to take dad with her more. Having my cousins nearby is awesome. They are my brothers ‘cause I live a lonely only-child life.

Me: When I was your age, my parents were cool too. I just didn’t know it until I had you. Maybe if you came out of your room once in awhile, you wouldn’t be so lonely…

Cramps are better than contractions

Sex: Haha, now this topic is quite an interesting subject at this age. I find some of my friends are diving right in, and it seems to be all they can talk about. Other friends won’t even bring it up. I don’t believe there should be any rush to have sex. I’m pretty vocal and communicative with guys about my boundaries, and encourage my friends to do the same. Everyone has his or her own pace and way of approaching sex, especially at this age. I don’t find there is a deadline or race to lose your virginity, and I think most teens would agree with me. The number one rule in my book is communication and respect are absolutely mandatory.

Me: We weren’t nearly as informed or empowered as your generation. Our fundamental knowledge of sex was that condoms were cheaper than diapers.

Don’t blame me. I voted for the pizza party.

Politics: I have an actual interest in politics, not saying I’d be interested in pursuing a career in them (hell to the no), but I do enjoy some heated conversations. The main focus in grade 12 social studies is politics and economics. Driest. Stuff. Ever. Perfect time for morning naps. Voting is one of many on a loooong list of things I’m excited to do once I turn 18. It’ll be really cool being able to play a role in how my country’s government works.

Me: In high school, I thought being socially conscious was knowing the address of the next house party.

Good friends don’t let you do stupid things…alone

Friends: Oh man, I love my friends. The old ones and the new ones. The more friends the merrier. What I really like is how we’ve matured and there’s not the drama there used to be. If we have a problem we talk it out, or we put it aside and move on. I do have one main group of friends and within that group lies many many insults, offensive jokes and teasing, all done out of love for one another. My friends mean everything to me and yeah, sometimes they piss me off, but at the end of the day we are always there for each other and I’m incredibly thankful for that.

Me: I live for the nights I can’t remember, with friends I’ll never forget.

Jesus was born because Mary had an immaculate contraption

Religion: I don’t really believe in any form of higher god or power in the universe. I believe in evolution and science. I disagree with many of the morals that certain religions follow. However, I have many friends that are religious and I am very supportive of their beliefs. The teenagers I know don’t insult one another based on their religion. What one person believes in is their own business and not ours.

Me: I attended Mennonite Sunday school, went to a Catholic kindergarten, but fancy myself more of a Buddhist.

Kiss me if I’m wrong, but dinosaurs still exist, right?

Boys: Stupid (sorry to any guys reading this). I mean, I have a love/hate relationship with them. They’re nice to fawn over and some guys are awesome, but it’s nearly impossible to find the full package at this age. I have to thank them though, because they’ve contributed to the growth in my confidence over the past few years. It’s soooooo hard to find a boy who is somewhat mature at this age, so I tend to go for older guys (sorry dad, you can blame mom for that one… must be hereditary). They’re so much more respectful, cute and mature. To conclude… boys are dumb and have cooties.

Me: I can tell you that they get better with age. So, you only have to wait until you’re in your 50’s.

The future ain’t what it used to be

The Future: Terrifying. I have to apply for university in these next few weeks, and that means I have to decide what I want to do for the rest of my life. I have a general direction I want to be headed in, but I’m not ready to commit. At the same time, I’m beyond excited to graduate high school and turn eighteen next year (hello freedom!!!). I’m ready to move on to the next stage in my life and get out in the real world, although I have a feeling the world is going to eat me alive.

Me: You won’t get swallowed whole, but you’ll learn valuable lessons while taking a bite out of life.

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