Rules for the moms of Teenagers.

Mother Nature is providential. She gives us twelve years to develop a love for our children before turning them into teenagers. ~William Galvin

The frustrations of a parent - you love your kids so much, and yet they throw everything back at you at times. I know that this is what I signed up for, but it would be nice to get a "thank you" or a "please" or a "sorry" at the appropriate times! They think they know everything, including how to drive a car. In fact, they are more in control of that car than you could ever be, because they've been driving for a whole 10 months and you've only been driving for 25 years!

You're expected to make sure their clothes are clean and dinner is to their taste. Also, don't forget that even though they left their book bag in your classroom so they wouldn't have too much to carry to afterschool sports, you need to drag it (along with your bags of books and papers to grade) to the car so that homework is not forgotten. Make sure you remember to tell them that you took out the book they needed to read, before they explode at the fact that the bag was too heavy to carry and you left it behind!

Oh, and don't dare take away privileges, such as computer, playstation and phone! This is just not appropriate and will probably end up with you not being spoken to (which may be better than careless words). Don't try to tell them that their behavior was inappropriate or the words they used were disrespectful, because you may be told that this is "just the way I am and I can't change". Mmmm - really?? Let's see if not having access to technology will help you take some time to think about this statement!

Yet, after all of this, you remember the times where you laughed together at something that wasn't really that funny. You remember how you put your bags at the bottom of the stairs to pick up later, only to find out that they have carried them up for you - without you asking (and on a regular basis!). You remember the times that they come up to you and simply hug you - for no reason.

So, even though the comments and the actions hurt, the love you have for that child is too deep to deny. Just a few more years and hopefully, after all the discipline, they will rise up and call me blessed :) Because I am blessed - as a mom!