Wednesday, July 22, 2009

teen parenting presumption #1

Two of my kids are now in the "adult" category....18 and 20....I feel like I've successfully "parented" them up to this point.

Then why, oh why, do I forget the simple presumptions in parenting of teenagers?
This morning I was reminded of one of them and I still get that shocked...."oh! that's not true" response....and then I take a minute to remember....I am the parent of a teenager!.....truth to a teenage comes from a totally different slant.

Am I confusing you? I feel like I am. What I'm trying to say is according to my teens, EVERYTHING is my fault. It doesn't matter if I'm not within a 10 mile radius, never even had any idea of what was happening....It's still my fault!

My dad and step mom, Ann are visiting this week and they graciously volunteered to go where no sane person would go....Mac's room. They decided that they would like to help her organize and arrange her room. See, as her mother, and a slightly compulsive organizer (just slightly), I have attempted this feat before (multiple times, actually) and just may loose my mind if I try again.....it's so sad when you give up hope for your offspring in an area you hold close to your heart...

My dad is going to build Mac some shelves to hold all her lovely shoes, but Mac is very specific in her design idea of these shelves. So today a trip is planned to Lowe's. My dad hasn't parented a teen for many years and I think he may have forgot that they tend to sleep in just a tad. He's been up since the crack of early.....waiting....and waiting....and waiting.

10:00 am and I can see he's going stir crazy....I go in a "stir" Mac.
Let's just say that scenes from the "Exorcists" come to mind....her head spun around....there was an evil look on her face....and the voice that came out of my sweet baby telling me to get out was
deep and scary.
Ok I'm exaggerating....but she was not happy.

10:30 am my dad announces that he's gonna get her out of bed....Ann and I start begging "please don't do it!" "it's not a good idea" "we can go later and work on it tomorrow".....he didn't even acknowledge us as he went upstairs.....I wanted to hide under the kitchen table.

I listened for screaming and crashing furniture or doors slamming or projectile vomiting but didn't hear anything. My dad comes down smiling. "What did she say?" I ask. "She said "ok she'd get up" he says. I'm shocked. "how did you do it?" He smiles and says " I told her it was 12 o'clock and time to go to Lowe's"

Mac comes down stairs 2 minutes later and if you think she was scary while trying to wake her....let me tell you....the look she gave me when she came around that corner sent shivers up my spine. "What?" I ask (this is where I forgot parenting presumption #1) "It's not 12! It's only 10:30!" she hissed. "Tonight I'm coming in your room at 2 am and telling you it 8am and time to get up" she continued. "I told him not to do it" I plead...."didn't I, Ann...tell her" Ann starts trying to defend me.....it does no good.....the evil look continues. Then I surrender and remember....it's not gonna do any good. Just let it go....no amount of arguing will help......someday they will have she owns teens and that gives me a small feeling of vindication.

6 comments:

Lucky Girl said...

Watching them deal with their own offspring will make you snicker and snort right from the get go! :D

Anonymous said...

Tell her that Kaitlen has to be up by 10:00 or the super soaker comes out and she has an early start on her morning shower.

Anonymous said...

Wow- After the Marines I can't even imagine sleeping that long. It reminds me of my father in law a WWII Vet. The first time he comes to visit us in our 1BR Apt. We give our bed for them... My bride takes the couch and I get the love seat..even though Im 5" taller. Anyway I end up on the floor and at 6AM. My father in law comes in the LR and says- "Rick, You up?- (mmm YEAH.) I've been awake since 5:30 and now it's 6 - You can only lay so long, you know"? Good-NESS. Anyway you make me nervous mine are 13 and 10 so I think the blame game is coming to theater near me :-)

Go easy. - Rick M.

mommyto3kiddos said...

LOL...that's so funny :) I remember (even just a couple years ago) wondering if Micah would ever sleep in and now we're in the smae boat. He'd sleep all day if I let him - and he's only 10! Oh wait, no I'm pretty sure he'd crawl out of bed at some point, if only to eat everything in the kitchen...and THEN go back to bed. :P

Anonymous said...

She's not so bad, didn't give grandpa any heat at all....what you talking about, she's so sweet I love her!.... grandpa

BluePixo said...

Every parent should convey to the child that he is an individual in his own right apart from us and responsible for his successes and failures.

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