You know that sequels are always a crap-shoot.

They’re either really good…or really BAD.

With Denver – it was rough.

I mean, at one point we talked about shipping him off to live with his grandparents rough.

It’s made me terrified of this stage with the girls.

Legit.

Especially with all the horror stories of how girls are SO. MUCH. WORSE.

Except…

So far (knocking on every bit of wood here)…they haven’t been.

Despite puberty, moving struggles, teenage friendship drama, technology zombies, and a few bumps along the way…right now these two are the sweetest kids ever. They hug us and tell us they love us and they TALK to us.

Like, legit talk to us.

About everything.

Through the rough struggles with Denver we learned a lot. About how to approach them, how to have conversations about difficult topics, and how to discipline.

With these monsters we talk about everything.

Sex. Internet. Sexual preference. Bullying. Mental health. Religion.

It’s a whole new dynamic I never expected this time around. It’s happy, comfortable, full of laughter and honesty.

Don’t get me wrong…I know without a doubt this could all turn on a dime. I mean, they are teenagers, after all. Puberty could hit the little one harder than the bigger one.  There could be an argument that could trigger a landslide.

But I am working to make sure that isn’t the case.

We’re finally on the rights with Denver and enjoying a pretty good relationship with him, but it took a long road and a lot of Disney to get us there.

I’m doing everything I can to make sure if there’s bumps, we handle them…so that we don’t end up having to navigate around a sinkhole.