58 GoodLifeFamilyMag.com JULY | AUGUST 2019 TEEN MIDDLEADOLESCENCE(14TO16) I see Jack for his 15-year-old physical. He grew like I promised. Now he’s 5 foot 6 inches. His mother comes into the room, and before she’s uttered five words Jack interrupts, “Isn’t Dr. B my doctor, not yours?” He asks her to leave shortly after that and she obliges. As I review some preventative health information, I notice him posting a mes- sage on Snapchat: a picture of him sitting in his doctor’s office, look- ing bored. He sees my face and puts his phone away. We talk about his girlfriend. He’s honest with me that they’ve talked about sex but are planning on waiting for a while. We spend a lot more time talking about risky behaviors than we have in the past. It’s a good conversa- tion. He talks as if he’s invincible. I share with him my experiences of taking care of young men his age who have believed the same thing. Before he leaves, I talk to him about the way he treated his mom and the way he treats his girlfriend, and women in general. He’s able to understandthathismomloveshimandisprobablyhurtbyhiswords and actions. We talk about mutual respect, the same kind of respect I show him, that he shows his girlfriend. I praise him for his success on the JV basketball team and his creative writing. He’s spending less timeplayingvideogames(whetherit’sduetothegirlfriend,sports,or his creative pursuits). It’s a good visit. YOUNGADULT LATEADOLESCENCE(17TO21) Jack returns the summer after his sophomore year at Texas Tech. He’s a different kid from the one I took care of at age 12. He’s a young man. His mom’s not here today. He’s been coming by himself for a few years now. Jack tells me his parents are well and that he’s meeting his mom for lunch after our appointment. We laugh a little about how far he’s come in that relationship. “We had our hiccups, but she’s a great mom.” He’s enjoying college. He’s found some success in en- gineering and he’s committed. He’s lined up a nice internship for the summer and will spend his free time working out—he’s gained some unwanted weight, and his cholesterol is a little higher than last year— and reconnecting with old high school friends. His grades were better first semester, and being social chair of his frat was great for leadership but bad for his grades. He acknowledges he drank more than he should have a couple of times, but he’s not vaping or smok- ing weed. He broke up with his serious girlfriend during his second semester freshman year and has had only one sexual encounter since then (protected). I give him some relationship advice, recommend a therapist in our office for his mild generalized anxiety, and encourage him to look into a study abroad program next semester. He asks me how long I can be his doctor. I answer, “Until you stop being a young adult. Maybe 26?” My work at Young Men’s Health and Wellness is truly a privilege. Takingcareofyoungmenlike“Jack”isajoy.Caringforthemthrough these developmental stages, keeping them physically whole, mentally and emotionally strong yet sensitive—this is why I went into Adoles- cent Medicine. I wish there were many more Adolescent Medicine specialists like myself out there, but thankfully there are other male pediatricians who feel and practice the way I do (thank goodness for my co-worker, Dr. Kevin Windisch!). We need more though. Because our young men need us. I talk to him about the way he treated his mom and the way he treats his girlfriend, and women in general.