Can you guess which road our rambles are leading me down today and tomorrow, mes bloggeurs et bloggeristas? Here's another clue!
No, seriously! It feels a bit like this...
And you thought you were through with all those tedious Toddler Tantrums that caused such embarrassment in supermarkets from pillar to post!
You get those out of the way. You get them into the right schools, spend hours ferrying them back and forwards to 'clubs' - Sometimes tennis, then there was the winter he was dead keen on fencing; Then came the Fifth Year when he wanted to learn the keyboards...
...That lasted ooh, all of six months... Then her life depended upon being able to sing, and you found that private tutor out of town, who charged you a King's Ransom for a scintilla of the bitter taste of fickle fame...
Then there was the first crush, unrequited of course and, oh yes, those months when he hated his sister with a vengeance, and wanted her dead and buried... And then your children become teenagers overnight, and that's when the proverbial shit hits the fan.
But, you're not unduly concerned, you brought your boy up well, after all...
He's been a good kid throughout, no real problems to speak of...
Of course, he could always work harder in lessons, and not try to be the class clown...
Then he went out with that lovely girl for nearly a year - You called her The Preacher's Daughter. (You remember, Fhina, after that hummable Dusty Springfield number, and because her dad was a Nice Man of the Cloth?)... She was lovely. Petite, blonde, pretty, bright as a button, and you got to meet her properly for the first time just before Christmas when she came for dinner... You gave her a lovely, trendy wool crochet scarf in shades of blue and deepest pink (a bargain at TK Maxx), and tiny turquoise and silver earrings...
She was kind enough to give you a huge box of your favourite chocs, and you had to use a great big stick to fend off the rest of the family, just to be able to savour them, and share them, over a few days as opposed to just one hour!
And then they split up a week later - A mutual decision, followed by acrid accusations and rancid repercussions! And now they're bosom buddies, complete with friendly bear-hugs.
Thank the Goddess! Well, that child that you have always - Jokingly - referred to as the 'Child from Hell', in that scary voice you put on sometimes, has lived up to that nickname in recent months...
First, there was the slamming of doors, some breaking of glass...
(Yep, if you remember, Fhina, that was when he closed the door swiftly on that walking cane you were using to help you get about back then; Mind, you were also shaking it at him - To illustrate a point, as it were!).
There were those bad moods, punctuated by howling mirth; Pious Pleading...
"Never again, I promise..." followed by Days Of Sullen Silence...
You have met demands for Birthday Present Driving Lessons and a school trip overseas...
You have made accommodations for his fine friends to stay over, and you have turned the occasional blind eye to him not being exactly where he was supposed to be, at precise o'clock...
...Because he was having such a good time, he had forgotten what time it was...
And slowly, but surely, it dawns on you that you have been living in that Parent Limbo between wanting to hold on to him, to hug him, and protect him, no matter what - He's your beloved only child for the Goddess Wiki's sake - to wondering out loud to your husband whether Grizz is too old to put up for adoption!
See you tomorrow, mes adorables, for more Tales of the Teenage Riverbank, and an unexpected upturn!
32 comments:
Luckily, my two were teenagers before the word became a dirty one! Minimum traumas, and all soon over - weren't we fortunate?! x
I will fast forward and give you the ending. No. I'll wait. There are people out there who need to experience this, the way you tell it.
It does bring back many memories and nightmares.
p.s. I was a high school teacher and a middle school principal. My own children's dramas paled next to the hundreds of stories I could recite at the end of any week.
I guess I should feel lucky for not having any children then.;))
Hi Fhina,
I'm working backwards here! Toddlers? Teenagers? Who'd have them? Fortunately, not me!!
I was the personification of perfection myself!
Hang in there Importance, horrible teenage behaviour is God's way of making us happy when they leave :-) x
Yes what Protege said!!!
I do not have kids nor will i probably ever have them! Or one!! Just not my thang!!!
Your a great mama, he will turn out just fine!! Just get him through this section of life K???
I am walking now!!! Come read!
yikes! Is this what's in store for me in a few years. I'm scared!
And the vision of you shaking the cane while the door slams - priceless :-)
carma
Fhina this too:
Flies around blogland, throwing colorful powders on everyone* Happy Holi!!! *blows kisses*.
For you!!! Happy Holi!!!
I love this holiday!!!!
What a cliffhanger.........sounds sort of familiar. I have a twenty year old and a 15 year old.......'nuff said.
I'm having the locks and chains installed next week (I figure I have a little time before I'll really NEED them, but the threat of use might help to get us through the next few years relatively anxiety-free... well, anxiety-free on MY part ;).
That pretty much sums up my teenage years. If it makes anyone feel better, I did apologize to my mother when I hit 23 and realized she was right about EVERYTHING.
See! That's why we have dogs instead ;-)
jinksy: You tinky, jinkster you! Darling Son actually had a crash on his way to school this morning - More later, needless to say, I am almost lost for words - but he is safe, thank the angels, he and his friend the driver are safe. x
lakeviewer: I need your insight, LV, for sometimes I just don't know how my reaction should be, if you know what I mean - more later this week... x I know your profession will mean that you have horror stories galore, I would imagine!
Protege: Batcat and his cat followers are no trouble when compared to Terrible Teens! x
Derrick: I know, we were all perfect teens, but I know that apart from a horrifying first boyfriend, I brought my parents relatively little trouble... At least, that's what I remember!
Reasons: I know all this is part of the understanding that we need to cut the ties eventually and let them leave home, making their own decisions, but I just want him chipped like a pet, so I can follow his movements! x
Michelle: Hello cheery you! Thank you for all your blessings and kind thoughts about my parenting!! Love to you, and I was over at yours this morning leaving my bloggy goodness at your happy, runny news, friend! x
carma: Perhaps you need to take up the knife-throwing, Carma, for later practice with your son-shine? Safer than walking canes... Perhaps, perhaps not! x aid...
Michelle: It's a holiday?! Everyday is a holi for me at the mo'! Well, not really! x
Artist Unplugged: Helloe treasure! Ah, you survived two kids - One was more than enough for me, with my OH GJ also to contend with, and all his infantile, yet endearing qualities! x
Diane: Hello precious! Locks and chains sound very positive to me, and I would recommend an antique chastity belt for later in life, D, trust me! I did read about Scold's Bridles too, (for those sassy teenage tongues!), but I think they are a myth for the miss(us/es)! xox
Jewels: Do you do management training, Jewels - You could come over to tutor my son in how to say sorry - I can pay! x
Carolina: I love dogs, cats, sheep, even children, but I could never eat a whole one! x
Can't remember much of my teenage years - was permanently partying and pissed, but there again I left home at 16 and went to sea.
Chairman Bill: And were those two things connected, do you think?!
My little girls give me no trouble at all. They will never get into trouble - unless an unwanted doggy admirer hangs around outside.
What will tomorrow's upturn prove to be? Come on - tell us.
Unfortunately you are so right. You raise them right, literally, yes with a few mistakes, but nothing that justifies what teenagers turn into at a certain stage in their lives. I've been through it myself. I have four kids, one girl (the oldest) and three boys. My girl was always independent, well behaved, responsible, reasonable, etc. Nothing prepared us for what she went through at age 15, just so very angry, withdrawn, depressed. By age 17 she had overdosed on prozac and was 5150'd. By age 20, she hit her peek with severe cutting, drugs and alcohol all while attending college successfully.
Today, however, she has been clean for one and half years. Though it all ended with a beautiful grandson being born, she is doing very well today. She has moved back home with the baby. I look after the baby (for free) as long as she keeps her act together. She is due to graduate this june from UCI and has been accepted at Cal State Fullerton for her credential program while she works at night to pay her bills and raise her baby boy.
Yes, it can be truly heart breaking, but in the end, if we have faith and we ask God for his guidance, our teenagers can overcome.
Thanks for sharing.
FF: Do you (French) Fancy a swap? He'll eat more than your darlings, tho'!
The upturn is very pleasant and will warm the cockles of your heart, but I might be bumping Juliet to later in the week(end) owing to this morning's events, and whatever tomorrow now brings! At least it's never boring around here... Oh, dearie me! xxx
Love the teenager poster! I'm thinking of printing it off (and changing it to 21 year old!)
I have two so am with you, but I have a 5 year old to throw into the mix. You remember - "No I don't want to wear that hat today, it's itchy", while the older two are shoving him out the way proclaiming that they're late for school. Not that it could ever have been watching Top Gear instead of getting his stuff ready, or spending too much time with the lip gloss in her case? No never.
This IS creative writing, right? Fiction? I'm pretty sure I heard after 8 it's all cake. Something like that.
Thanks for your insights round my way today. I appreciate them greatly!
Now I know why I was right not to have kids. I'm told it's the most rewarding thing in life, but what you don't know, you don't miss. I was a teenager once and I remember making my mum's life rather hellish! xxx
That is too scary! I'm only just over the terrble twos. Waiting patiently for the twist in the tale in your next post - please give me hope for the future!
Presious: I am so pleased that you have reached a better space within your family - Nothing can prepare you for them going off the rails, sometimes these are lessons they just have to learn and hopefully move on, eh?
I am grateful for your being here, and for all you do for your family!
I have a twist in the tale, which shall come the day after tomorrow, as a terrible, and at the same time, miraculous thing happened to my son today...
Will respond to you more tomorrow, mes darlings, I need to go and minister to my Grizzles xxx
We decided that one child was sufficient for our family, and loving nurtured him towards a balanced life, not too boisterous, not too quiet, you know, the lad everyone likes?
Then as the age of 40 approached - our little 'accident' arrived. Talk about turmoil.
we are just surviving the 16's with the eldest , but with a sense of dread as we know that in 9 years time we will live it all again when we are really too old and should be going off on last minute holidays and spending afternoons in garden centres...
omwards and upwards.
Aaaah! Nostalgia! I loved those teenage years. Although the fist through the window and the constant demands for taxi services and money could get a bit tedious.
I'm so glad my two got through their growing up fairly unscathed and have left home.
This will pass, my dear. Enjoy them while you can! Tee hee.
I may not know where the story is going. . . but, boy, have I been where you've been!!!
Can't wait until tomorrow!
I'm late today, Fhina. You were right to be worried. Figuratively speaking, I was both in a ditch and up a rail track, but a good friend talked me off the ledge and all is much better now.
As for this post, you may know I have 2 teenage daughters. We have dug ourselves a nice, deep moat and filled it with crocodiles to keep out trouble. And whenever those girls go astray, we ground them into plain, Amish existence for as long as it takes them to remove their pretty, little heads from their cute, little backsides.
Great post and images to match :-)
Be yourself......... do whatever you need to do and let the kids be themselves too.
Pick your battles.... not everything really at the end of the day is that important.
You're clever & really very important xx
best wishes Ribbon
Ahhhh......the teenage years!! I called it "The Age Of Darkness" when our kiddos were young. Thank God they have all moved out, have jobs and are self sufficent, lol.
Secretly though? I long for them every day.....
Be careful what you with for where Blue is concerned.........Prince works for British Airways and a lil kitty flight could possibly be arranged :)
Steady On
Reggie girl
Scriptor: It is pretty amusing - And all over t'Internet! They're still like this at 21??!
Expat mum: I just have one - I was just writing around what many of my friends say when they've two - Believe me, one has been enough - As obsessively loved as he is! My niece is only 3 while my nephews are nearly 15 and 17, so I can see all those challenges you face, rapidly unfolding in the rare moments I am at their home! x
Woman in a Window: This is comedy fiction, WiW, just you roll that up, put it in your pipe and smoke it! right? And after 8, it;s the parents who usually turn to cake, or their bottom halves turn into cake shelves, something like that! You are a sumptuous writer, WiW, not afraid to tackle difficult issues - Your blog is a rare find - Welcome here! x
Henry the Dog's Mum: Where have you been today, with your little waggy tail, treasure?! Having a child was something wonderful that I hadn't expected, and it changes everything in some amazing (and sometimes terrifying!) ways! I cannot ever see you as a difficult teen! xxx
Working mum: Ah, I remember the Terrible Twos, which went on for a few years - He was lovely when he wasy little; loving, cheeky, bright, and for a while we thought we'd escaped the Teen Tantrums unscathed - Hah! We do really love him, 'though! x
Tismee2: Helloo! I never realised the gap in your boys' ages from their portraits - It does bring additional 'dimensions' doesn't it?! Ah, afternoons in Garden Centres...! The only way is up, Tismee2! x
Jay: I have a money tree in the garden, don't you?! And the peak of my chauffer's cap is firmly welded to my forehead! We do love them, non? x
lizspin: We are all like little mirrors - Seeing ourselves in all our blogs, no?! x
blognut: Glad you are 'down off the roof', Bloggus, and feeling more like your gorgeous Nuttus self! I love the Amish lifestyle, moats and Krokodilien - Perhaps we need to do a swap? You are such a funny, wonderful soul, Bloggus, sending you love and hugs! xxx
Ribbon: Thank you so, swirling ribbon, for your words and kindness! Such sound advice, and I am learning which battles we need to hold out for and which to let drop (the bedroom that looks like the Somme!) - It's the only way, eh?! xx
Reggie Girl: Age of Darkness? Heart of Darkness, more like, and some days I look in the mirror and I'm turning into Marlon Brando, and not in a good way!!
I do love, love, love my boy, and Wednesday's turn of events - Horrifying and wonderful - will now be featured Friday - It's been a traumatic few days, mes dahlinks!
As for the beautiful Blue Soul, if your Prince can slip that kitty under the wire, (perhaps disguised as an in-flight meal - but not for consumption!), a basket awaits him in my heart and my home! xxx Stay steady, darling Reggie girl! x
Wonderfully written and I enjoyed reading it very much. It brought back some *sweet* memories, yes, I said sweet. Parenting is the toughest job in the world and there there is no deposit and no return.
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