2. Write a blog post inspired by the word: slippery.
Parenting teens is hard. I had been warned, but I didn’t really think the moods or the negative energy or the rudeness would come for me. Don’t get me wrong, I was horrible as a teen. SO moody, SO rude, SO negative! It’s just that my girls have always been a lot nicer than I was. They are studious and sweet, they get good grades and have good friends…I feel like even as a toddler you could have predicted I might have a very moody time as a teen.
Plus, I am a fun, cool mom. As they were growing up I felt like it should be no problem keeping them laughing. They will always like me and therefore they will not be rude to me. I thought I had outsmarted the system. Here’s the crazy thing though, I have kids on YouTube who regularly leave comments telling me they wish I was their mom. My nieces and nephews think it’s so cool that I make videos and they laugh at all my jokes. But my kids? They are entirely and completely “over” me. I do a fun dance number and they tell me I’m “cringey”. I tell hilarious jokes and they say I’ve “triggered” them. They come home from school, want food, and then go to their rooms and talk to their friends.
I remember trying not to laugh when my Mom would do song and dance numbers, but that’s because she’s a dork. I’M FUN!
The other day I was walking with Maile to her volleyball practice and I was like, “Maile, can you do this?” and then I did happy leprechaun jumps all the way down the hill. She stayed straight-faced as ever and was all, “Did your mom do leprechaun jumps when you were my age?” And then she didn’t even TRY to complete one.
Sadly, I think I know exactly what has to happen to put large, genuine smiles on my grumpy teens faces because that same evening I finally got one out of Maile. It was an audible laugh and a full ear to ear grin. It happened as we were leaving volleyball practice and I stepped in front of a few families onto an extremely slippery patch of mud. My feet slipped out from under me and regained composure at the last minute. I was in near panic mode because there were people around who could have potentially witnessed a very embarrassing moment, but Maile was elated. She burst into laughter and even after the moment passed continued breaking into giggles all the way back to the car.
Instead of feeling offended that my child was so thrilled about a potentially embarrassing and painful spill in front of others, I actually feel encouraged. Totally worth it, I will keep my eyes peeled for more slippery mud patches!
Now it’s your turn!
Choose a prompt, post it on your blog, and come back to add your name to the link list below. Be sure to sign up with the actual post URL and not just your basic blog URL (click on the title of your post for that URL). For good comment karma try to comment on the three blogs above your name!!
The Prompts:
1. Share a quote you love.
2. Write a blog post inspired by the word: slippery.
3. Saturday morning at your house…
4. Best or worst gift you ever gave or received.
6. Make a holiday dish and share the recipe with us!
7. List the best places to see holiday lights.
John Holton says
I’m old enough to be your father, and I wish you were my mom.
Abby says
“’Did your mom do leprechaun jumps when you were my age?’ And then she didn’t even TRY to complete one.”
HA! I laughed out loud at that imagery. Just wait ’til she has kids :)
Ernie says
I just wrote about my worst gift ever – but it won’t post for about 2 weeks. Sorry to keep you waiting – I am working ahead because my school days are so busy.. Lots of other interesting stories in the meantime. I have 6 kids. My daughter has just started to become a grumpy teenager. The three older brothers just ate more and grunted frequently and maybe pushed each other around a little. Girls are, well, different. She stills thinks I rock, but her sweet little sister is like: ‘What happened?’ – almost overnight.. She barks at this little sister more and gets nutty about crazy things like a missing shoe.
I could have sworn that my girls would never be typical sneering teens based on how they behaved as littles. I had a lot of anger growing up – but I do feel like my angst was a result of my upbringing. I was a middle child who was glossed over, unnoticed, and unappreciated. It still causes me to tense up when I am with my family. (to make it clearer: 2 older sisters are BFFs and 2 younger brothers are practically Siamese. See?!) Anyway, my girls have always been delightful and sweet and caring to one another. This new chapter is not fun, but I am calling them out on it. I demand that they be good to each other!
Um, I am glad you didn’t fall in the mud, and I worry about you as you seek out new slippery spots. So, you are the anything for a laugh type? :)
Ernie says
I just read your ‘about’ – I run a home daycare too! I only sit for teachers’ kids though so that they get picked up before I start driving my kids to activities after school. And I have summers off. I just had a mom totally lose her shit in my kitchen. It was awful. The other folks I sit for at the moment are all normal. Thanks goodness!