There's a dirty little secret kept by many parents of teenagers.

It's not the absolute worst thing in the world when we see that our kids are sad.

Now before you shake your head in disgust, please note that I didn't say we love it when our kids are sad. The old saying that a parent is only as happy as their unhappiest child has been passed down for generations, and for good reason: It's true.

There's little that can make you feel more helpless than seeing your child hurt and knowing there's nothing you can do to fix it.

But there's something that happens when your teenager is sad.

They turn back into the balls of mush who once willingly spent afternoons on the couch, head in your lap while you stroke their heads and run your nails gently over their backs.

There are hugs.

Hugs given. Hugs received.

There's a head that nestles in your shoulder and hair that you're allowed to position back behind ears.

This is it. This is not a drill.

This is your opportunity to fill up on all the snuggles and cuddles you've been missing since they hit that age when hugging your parents became oh so grosssss.

You may not get another one of these for awhile.

And yes, you will be heartbroken. You will feel like you need this almost as much as they do because you're wrestling with the sort of complicated emotions that come from watching the person you love most in the world wrestle with emotions.

But you will not hate this return to a time when you got hugs, this time when you were able to show them just how much you love them, this time when you get to be there for them.

So no, it won't be a good time. You won't revel. You won't celebrate.

But you'll have to admit it…it isn't the absolute worst thing that will ever happen to you.