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Managing Teenagers
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Posted by marci4tony Mon Nov 5, 2007 11:16:59 MST
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0 responses 0 comments I have never really considered "teen-agers" a complete and separate species.  I've heard the horror stories - heck, it wasnt long ago that I was one of those!  (Well, perhaps longer that I want to admit)

I now believe that being a parent should come with an instruction manual.  And I can now say, its a good thing that these odd beings start out small and simple.  For those of you who are new parents that are thinking "simple, my but!t" I apologize for the reality check.  When we are presented with our newborns, we are in awe.  How could something so complex come from practically nothing!  How could something so sweet really be that monster that dang near broke my ribs with the knee and elbow exercises?  And the heartburn?! 

Before too long, we wish that they could hold their own bottle - we wish that they could feed them selves - we wish that they would sleep through the night - we wish that they could walk and run and play - we wish that they would use the potty...  Then it hits us - We wake up one day and wish that they were newborns, again.

Well, the teenager thing hit me like a cast iron skillet!  All of a sudden, I'm a bad parent because I wont buy him a cell phone, and I'm the spawn of satan for making him do his homework.  Not to mention every name in the book for trying to get some chores out of him.  If anyone ever reads Zits...it's more true to life than you realize!  I think they need to rename it BRANDON!  And where he learned to be so condescending and so hurtful I will never know.  Just because he is taller than I doesnt mean that he has the right to talk down to me.  His former teachers had a respect problem that I brushed off as just a personality conflict. (I apologize from the bottom of my heart in hindsight, not that there is anything I could have done to change it)  Well, my forehead now has DOORMAT written across my forehead.  I just don't get it. He was an obnoxious, silly kid that liked to ride his razor scooter and now, I just want him to go away.  Unusual, I ask - I've been hearing "no" - but I am at such a loss on how I can get through to him.  Its MY house - I pay the bills - I support his goofy butt - I EXPECT RESPECT.  I DEMAND RESPECT for me and his siblings. But that isn't enough.  Nothing affects or motivates this kid.  Teenagers??

I don't know where I went wrong, but I know how miserable and worthless he makes me feel.  I also know that I am not alone out here in the NEW SPECIES check.  I hope he pulls his head out of his rear end, and I hope that something out there that is important to him triggers a reality check of his rotten decisions.  Maybe I simply need to count the days until that 18th birthday....

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